A former Governor of Kwara State and chief of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bukola Saraki, has suspended his 2015 presidential ambition.
According to a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omisore, made available to journalists in Ilorin on Sunday, Saraki said he decided to suspend the ambition in the interest of the nation and that because the political outlook for 2015, according to him, is complicated.
He stated that party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner.
According to him, the party will then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.
He said, “Even though his Presidential interest has sparked widespread excitement across the country, and has received major support from key stakeholders and youth groups, based on his leadership profile, characterised by infrastructural development, economic growth and striving social well being; Senator Saraki says he is deciding to step down his ambition because Nigeria’s political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.
“I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.
“I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.
“Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.”