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  • Train attack: Saraki lists 5 things government must do to end insecurity

    Train attack: Saraki lists 5 things government must do to end insecurity

    Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has listed five things that the federal government must do to end the current insecurity across the country.

    In posts on his verified social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Saraki, who presided over the 8th Senate’s 20-Point Security Recommendations which were forwarded to the executive, emphasized the need for effective intelligence sharing and the use of technology in order to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

    The former President of the Senate said:

    “In the last 96-hours, terrorists have overrun an airport, bombed two trains with thousands of Nigerians, and killed and injured several innocent citizens. As angry as I am — and we all are — about these attacks, one thing is clear: THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

    “The recent attack we have seen at the Gidan train station is yet another example of why people no longer feel safe in Nigeria.

    “We have seen too many attacks in too many communities across the country. We have lost far too many lives to still be at this point — commiserating daily with one family, one community, or the other. We need real solutions.

    “As I have reiterated for many years, drastic and decisive steps need to be taken to review our nation’s basic security infrastructure to protect lives and property.

    “One, the federal government must immediately establish an inter-agency task force that will formulate strategies to smoke out all bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja rail and vehicle routes. The recommendations of this task force must be acted upon immediately. In the long term, the task force should provide Nigerians with a strategy for ridding the entire country of bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers.

    “Two, the service chiefs must have a meeting and develop an immediate plan for inter-agency collaboration. The gaps in coordination, intelligence-sharing, and synergy amongst our security agencies must be immediately redressed.

    “Three, we must adopt 21st-century solutions to our present-day problems. We must make better use of technology to track the activities of these terrorists. We must equip our security operatives with the modern tools and equipment that they need to keep us all safe and prevent such attacks in the future.

    “Four, we cannot view these attacks in isolation. Our intelligence network must be proactive. We must be able to analyze and plan effectively to deal with all perceived threats and all enemies of the Nigerian people.

    “Five, we must show the strength of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making sure that our Police, DSS, and Armed Forces immediately find, apprehend and prosecute all those that planned, participated, or facilitated these attacks in any way.

    “We cannot continue like this. Two days ago, 970 people were attacked on a train between Katari and Rijana. Yesterday, Gidan. A few days ago, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Airport. Our people cannot continue to live with the constant pervasive fear of: “Where next?”

    “For the sake of all Nigerians, we need real solutions and decisive action,” Dr. Saraki stated.

  • Saraki woos Ogun PDP delegates ahead of primaries

    Saraki woos Ogun PDP delegates ahead of primaries

    The campaign team of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, visited Abeokuta on Friday to seek support of delegates ahead of the May 28 presidential primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Saraki is one of the PDP presidential aspirants seeking the party’s nomination for the 2023 presidential polls.

    The five-man team, led by Prince Adenekan Olateru-Olagbegi, met with the PDP leaders, including the governorship aspirant, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and the State Chairman, Sikirullahi Ogundele, at the state party secretariat.

    Olateru-Olagbegi told the delegates that the team had earlier visited some states in the South-West region, including, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo to seek support for Saraki.

    He described Saraki as the best candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the nation’s challenges and move it to greater heights.

    The leader of the delegation noted that apart from his competence, the former senate president represented a bridge between the youths and the old generation.

    He, therefore, called on the delegates to support Saraki’s aspiration at the PDP forthcoming presidential primary poll.

    “One thing I want you to take home is that, others will come, they will preach, they will manipulate.

    “But, remember, we need
    competencies. Please remember the future of our children, and remember what the older people before us did to produce Baba Obafemi Awolowo and you know the result that came thereafter.

    “By the grace of God, we will produce another good president in the person of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki,” he said.

    Ogundele in his remarks, noted that Saraki played a pivotal role in reconciling factional groups of the party in the state.

    “We owe the peace that we now enjoy in our party in this state majorly to Saraki,” he said.

    Adebutu, the leader of the party in Ogun, described Saraki as upright and courageous, adding that “he doesn’t shy away from responsibilities or challenges”.

  • 2023: Saraki vows to ensure empowerment of youth if voted president

    2023: Saraki vows to ensure empowerment of youth if voted president

    Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has vowed to empower Nigerian youths if he’s voted president come 2023.

    Saraki who made this vow when young professionals and entrepreneurs presented him nomination and expression of interest forms purchased for to enable him participate in the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party PDP presidential primaries slated for May.

    He said: “My dear professionals and entrepreneurs who constitute this noble group gathered here today, I am almost emotional witnessing this event where you young people gather your hard-earned money amounting to a whooping N40 million to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms in support of my candidacy.

    “I am told that in buying the forms, many of you contributed N200,000, N500,000 and and the highest is N2m. This initiative and noble effort are perhaps unprecedented in the history of Nigerian politics.

    “The tradition is either for the aspirant or a group of wealthy friends to come together to purchase the nomination forms because of the huge funds required. Your effort has beaten some of my friends who have been talking about doing this for me to the mark.

    “I appreciate this your effort far more than I would have appreciated if any of my friends has purchased the forms.

    ” My appreciation derives from the fact that your effort is essentially a genuine demonstration of your commitment, belief, patriotism, and sincerity in my ability and visions.

    ” You have taken money that you could have re-invested into your young businesses or spent to enjoy the various luxuries which hard-working young people may find necessary once in a while to procure these forms.

    “What you have done is a symbolic message that you are mandating me to go out to the field and work hard among all our leaders, delegates, and other stakeholders to win the PDP presidential ticket come May as well as subsequently follow up with decisive victory in the general elections in February 2023.

    ” Looking at the diversity that all of you gathered here represent, another symbolic message I will take away is that as far as the youths are concerned, what we need to develop in Nigeria is not where people come from or what religion they subscribe to.

    ” It is about having the competence, determination, and patriotism to initiate good measures and have the courage of conviction to follow through with the plans.

    “Your charge to me is to go there and make all Nigerians – young and old, northerners and southerners, Muslims, Christians, and people of other religions, operators in the private and public sectors, and members of different political parties – to join hands and fix Nigeria.

    “With your action today, I do not have an option but to listen to the voice of the youths who represent 62 percent of the over 200 million Nigerians. That is why I want to promise that If I become the President of Nigeria, all positions of Ministers of State in the cabinet will be occupied by youths.

    “This is a promise that I will not fail because I believe the ideas of the youths are needed to drive modern development efforts. And you know from my record that I have the boldness to implement this promise.

    Read full speech below:

    SPEECH BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND WAZIRI OF ILORIN ON MARCH 21, 2022, DURING THE PRESENTATION OF NOMINATION AND EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMS PURCHASED FOR HIM BY SOME YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE AS PART OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR HIS CANDIDACY IN THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

    • My dear professionals and entrepreneurs who constitute this noble group gathered here today, I am almost emotional witnessing this event where you young people gather your hard-earned money amounting to a whooping N40 million to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms in support of my candidacy.

    • I am told that in buying the forms, many of you contributed N200,000, N500,000 and and the highest is N2m. This initiative and noble effort are perhaps unprecedented in the history of Nigerian politics. The tradition is either for the aspirant or a group of wealthy friends to come together to purchase the nomination forms because of the huge funds required. Your effort has beaten some of my friends who have been talking about doing this for me to the mark. I appreciate this your effort far more than I would have appreciated if any of my friends has purchased the forms.

    • My appreciation derives from the fact that your effort is essentially a genuine demonstration of your commitment, belief, patriotism, and sincerity in my ability and visions. You have taken money that you could have re-invested into your young businesses or spent to enjoy the various luxuries which hard-working young people may find necessary once in a while to procure these forms.

    • What you have done is a symbolic message that you are mandating me to go out to the field and work hard among all our leaders, delegates, and other stakeholders to win the PDP presidential ticket come May as well as subsequently follow up with decisive victory in the general elections in February 2023.

    • Looking at the diversity that all of you gathered here represent, another symbolic message I will take away is that as far as the youths are concerned, what we need to develop in Nigeria is not where people come from or what religion they subscribe to. It is about having the competence, determination, and patriotism to initiate good measures and have the courage of conviction to follow through with the plans. Your charge to me is to go there and make all Nigerians – young and old, northerners and southerners, Muslims, Christians, and people of other religions, operators in the private and public sectors, and members of different political parties – to join hands and fix Nigeria.

    • With your action today, I do not have an option but to listen to the voice of the youths who represent 62 percent of the over 200 million Nigerians. That is why I want to promise that If I become the President of Nigeria, all positions of Ministers of State in the cabinet will be occupied by youths. This is a promise that I will not fail because I believe the ideas of the youths are needed to drive modern development efforts. And you know from my record that I have the boldness to implement this promise.

    • Without unfolding all the plans here because we will soon formally hold a public declaration to which all of you are hereby invited, I want to once again express my happiness over this gesture. I so much appreciate it and I will not take it for granted.

    • Once again, thank you. I pray for God’s blessing for all of you. I wish you journey mercies back to your various stations.

  • 2023: I will support Saraki’s presidential ambition only if… – Edwin Clark

    2023: I will support Saraki’s presidential ambition only if… – Edwin Clark

    Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has stated his reasons why he would support Bukola Saraki ahead of 2023 elections.

    Clark vowed to support Saraki’s presidential ambition if the Southern part of the country fails to produce a consensus candidate.

    He spoke when the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council, visited him in Abuja yesterday.

    The PANDEF leader described the former Senate President as “the best for Nigeria.”

    He commended Saraki for his sterling performance as a Senate President in the 8th Senate.

    “We have been agitating for the presidency to be zoned to the south. However, if we fail to come up with a consensus candidate in the South, I will have no option but to support Dr Bukola Saraki,” Clark declared.

    Recall that the former Kwara State Governor, last week hinted at joining the 2023 presidential race.

  • Just In: Saraki joins league of presidential aspirants in 2023

    Just In: Saraki joins league of presidential aspirants in 2023

    Former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki has joined the league of those seeking to take over President Muhammadu Buhari’s job in 2023.

    Saraki made this known via his verified tweeter handle where he responded to a clarion call for him to run for presidency.

    Hear him: “Earlier, I replied to a follower of mine on Twitter who like thousands of you has been clamouring for a united front to #RescueNigeria.

    “As we prepare for the journey ahead, I hope we can all join hands to get the ticket of our great party, PDP, and build a nation that works for all of us.

    “Join me to make our communities safer and provide real opportunities for you and your families. I have a strong record of delivering and experience in making tough decisions.

    “Let’s build a new Nigeria that works for EVERYONE!”

    His declaration is coming after the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi, Senate Chip Whip Orji Kalu and former Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha declared similar interest.

    The former Kwara State Governor said he has a strong record of delivering and experience in making tough decisions.

    Saraki, born on December 19, 1962, is the son of Second Republic Senator, late Olusola Saraki.

    He was first elected into the Senate in 2011 and emerged Senate President in 2015.

  • Two things lawmakers can do to ensure passage of electoral bill rejected by Buhari – Saraki

    Two things lawmakers can do to ensure passage of electoral bill rejected by Buhari – Saraki

    The immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has challenged the National Assembly to be quick in its next line of action fowling President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

    In a statement on Wednesday, he proposed two critical decisions the lawmakers should make to ensure the bill becomes a law by January.

    “Now that Mr President has conveyed his decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act [amendment] Bill, I am sure that I speak on behalf of millions of Nigerians in urging the National Assembly to act fast,” said the former Senate President. “This is because we cannot sit back and allow one contentious clause to throw away all the positives in the proposed Electoral Act [amendment] Bill.

    “At this point, two options are open to the National Assembly. They either veto the president’s decline of assent or remove the contentious provision on direct primaries and send it back to the President for his assent.

    Whichever option, our legislators choose, can be accomplished in the shortest possible time. We could have a new electoral law in January 2022.”

    It was either commendation or criticism for various political players on Tuesday after it was revealed that the President had opted to withhold his assent to the bill.

    In the letters read to lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, President Buhari raised concern over the mandatory direct mode of primaries for political parties.

    While some governors and groups gave contrary reactions to the President’s decision, the lawmakers in both chambers said they would take definite action after their recess.

    Saraki, in his reaction, believes the present mood in the country is the desire to have a new electoral law that will lead to a credible, free, fair, and peaceful process of electing leaders at various levels.

    He stressed that Nigerians needed a system that would ensure their votes truly count in the election of those who govern them.

    “This proposed electoral law is expected to reassure the youths, many of whom steer clear of the political process because they have no confidence in the system. They believe the system is usually rigged and compromised,” the former Senate President said.

    “One way to bring this active demography into the political system is to enact a new law that will give them hope in our nation. This Electoral Act [Amendment] Bill serves that purpose.

    “This is why, as the representatives of the Nigerian people, the National Assembly must take a decision in the interest of our nation and its long-term democracy. The option of not doing anything after the refusal of the assent by the President is not an option.”

  • Stronger Political Will Needed to Achieve Universal Basic Healthcare – Saraki

    Stronger Political Will Needed to Achieve Universal Basic Healthcare – Saraki

    Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called for stronger political will amongst politicians and policymakers to achieve universal basic healthcare in Nigeria.

    Speaking on Thursday, December 16th, at the Universal Health Coverage Summit organized by Chatham House, which was held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Saraki stated that to put healthcare and health security coverage on the front burner, Nigerian leaders at the national and subnational levels needed to take healthcare delivery for all its citizens more seriously.

    “As a medical doctor, this is a topic that is close to my heart. It is a topic that I believe that we all need to get on board to ensure that more Nigerians have access to healthcare coverage.

    “To achieve development, the Nigerian population must be healthy. If we can get healthcare coverage right as a nation, we will be doing a lot for our citizens. However, the people that truly matter, the political leaders and decision-makers at the national and sub-national levels should be the ones at summits like this one to discuss what their manifestos and plans in the healthcare sector are for the Nigerian people,” the former Kwara State Governor said.

    Saraki, who as Senate President spearheaded the passage of the inclusion of one percent for basic primary healthcare from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the 2018 budget — the first occurrence of this nature in Nigeria’s history — emphasized that Nigeria had the technical knowledge, tools, and resources to achieve universal healthcare coverage, however, it still lacks the political will at the executive level.

    “We can pass three more laws or five more laws. However, unless the leadership of the nation and our states believe in holistic healthcare coverage for all like all the doctors and healthcare public policy experts in this room, we will not be able to achieve universal healthcare coverage.

    “In 2007, when I was the Governor of Kwara State, I realized that what everybody wanted to see was fancy hospitals and ‘ribbon-cutting ceremonies.’ However, given the infancy and maternal mortality rates, what my state needed at the time was basic primary healthcare at the grassroots level.

    “The real work is in training healthcare workers and taking them to the rural areas. Which is what we did at the time. The real work is in sustainable long-term solutions for this critical sector,” Saraki said.

    Saraki charged the Nigerian populace to interrogate politicians during campaigns before the 2023 election.

    “Very soon politicians will soon start campaigning to be president or to be governors. Nigerians must ask them: ‘What are your plans for universal health coverage?’ and ‘How do you intend achieve it?’ When the time comes, the answers to these questions must be considered by the electorate,” Saraki charged Nigerians.

    The former Senate President also emphasized that in a post-2023 Nigeria, the federal government and states must increase the number of those covered by healthcare insurance from the present 3 to 7 percent of the population, to working to attain 100 percent coverage.

    “We must look at how we can achieve this between 2023 and 2027. The state and federal governments must first focus on how to ensure that the less privileged in our society receive healthcare coverage between 2023 and 2025.

    “Additionally, the present allocation to healthcare by the states and the federal government must also increase to 25 percent of their overall spending. Most importantly, within 24-months of the next election, all the primary healthcare centers across the nation must be upgraded and re-equipped.

    “Finally, we must make healthcare insurance compulsory for all Nigerians — in order to have a healthier population,” Dr. Saraki said.

  • Electoral Act: Saraki calls for more transparent electoral system

    Electoral Act: Saraki calls for more transparent electoral system

    Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the electoral amendment act, saying that it will help ensure that Nigeria’s elections are freer, fairer, and more transparent.

    In a video released on his social media handles, Saraki, whose 8th Senate passed amendments to the electoral act four times between 2015 and 2019, emphasized that President Buhari has said that he wants to be the President that leaves behind stronger democratic institutions, therefore, by signing the electoral act, the President can “leave behind a stronger democracy than his predecessors.”

    Saraki said:

    “Nigeria, as a leader on the African continent, must always ensure that the voice of all Nigerians — especially our young people — will be truly heard in Government. This can only happen when our electoral laws are seen to have integrity.

    “We all want to build a nation with strong democratic values that instill confidence in investors. This all begins with having a sound electoral act.

    “The amended electoral act on the President’s desk has about 25 amendments. Out of this, it is only 4 subsections on direct primaries that are contentious.

    “Anyways, not all laws are perfect. Nigeria’s democracy stands to gain so much more from the other amendments, than what it will lose from the 4 contentious subsections.

    “As Mr. President has said at several fora, he hopes to leave behind a stronger democracy than his predecessors. This is why, like millions of Nigerians and our friends in the international community, I strongly believe that this law will give our nation a framework that ensures that we have a fairer and more transparent electoral system,” the former Senate President said.

    TWITTER VIDEO: https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/1470647136266162178?s=21

    INSTAGRAM VIDEO: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXdD5YQuP98/?utm_medium=copy_link

    FACEBOOK VIDEO: https://fb.watch/9U1VE9i7kY/

  • VIDEO: Ex-Senate President, Saraki receives APC group, #Lagos4Lagos movement into PDP

    VIDEO: Ex-Senate President, Saraki receives APC group, #Lagos4Lagos movement into PDP

    Immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Saturday welcomed a disgruntled faction within the ruling All Progressives Congress APC) in Lagos State, known as the ‘Lagos4Lagos Movement’ to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Lagos4Lagos Movement had also been critical of the reign and stronghold of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying no one has the right to impose governors and political office holders in the state.

    The Lagos4Lagos Movement had also been critical of the reign and stronghold of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying no one has the right to impose governors and political office holders in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the development might improve the chances of the PDP to capture the state from the ruling APC, a task the party has been trying to achieve since 1999 without success.

    Watch video below:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXEHtAfj3Mq/

  • Ex-Zamfara Gov, Yari, former senator Marafa break silence on dumping APC for PDP after meeting with Saraki

    Ex-Zamfara Gov, Yari, former senator Marafa break silence on dumping APC for PDP after meeting with Saraki

    Immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, and a former senator from the state, Kabiru Marafa, have denied media reports that they have quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The report had cited a meeting of the two men with former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at a wedding in Kaduna on Friday.

    But Ibrahim Muhammad, a media aide to Mr Yari and former Zamfara Commissioner of Information in a swift response on Saturday said the report was false.

    Muhammad claimed the report was orchestrated by political enemies of his principal.

    Also Marafa denied the report through a statement, describing it as “the wishful thinking of minions who are intimidated by our continued presence in the APC.”

    Marafa noted that reports on social media claimed that he and ex Governor Yari were joining the PDP following the intervention of erstwhile Senate President Saraki.

    He said: “it is our constitutional right to meet, attend, discuss, fly, drive with anybody we wish. Yes, we flew to Kaduna with Saraki to attend Sheik Bala Lau daughter’s wedding. Is that a crime?

    “When the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, attended the wedding Fatiha of Yusuf Buhari in Bichi, did that amount to decamping to APC?

    “We were senior architects, engineers and planners in the project team that designed, built and maintained APC from inception to date; so it will be irrational for anybody to think maltreatment, injustice or wicked rumours will make us abandon our project to some overambitious members,” Marafa said.