Reactions have continued to trail the announcement of the Senate President Bukola Saraki to run for the Office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The former Governor of Kwara State and apparent strong man of the Nigerian Senate is unarguably Nigeria’s most controversial politician at the moment.
While Saraki’s declaration of intent to run for president did not come as a surprise to some, the news however caught many Nigerians by surprise especially with the political atmosphere in the country where it seems the ruling All Progressives Congress Chairman Adams Oshiomole is help bent on removing Saraki as speaker of the Senate.
Nigerians have also continued to react to the situation on Twitter and other platforms; while some have hailed the deceision, others have condemned it as a selfish agitation that would fail.
According to a Twitter user @Babaidris090; “We are with you, it is time to leave these old men dwelling on the past glory. Lets create a new path and new dream…Bukola Saraki, Kindly take the lead in creating a new path for Nigeria.
Another Twitter user, @hiskenny09 wrote, “Before you throw your support behind Bukola Saraki, pick up your phone and call a Kwaran. Let them tell you the bitter truth. If you have my number call me. 2015 should have thought us some lessons about dangerous assumptions…”
Also reacting to the presidential ambition of Bukola Saraki is the Not Too Young To Run Movement which dissociated itself from the Senate President’s declaration of intent on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Read: Goodluck Jonathan Praises Saraki for Providing Strong Leadership
The group declared that it was disappointed with Saraki’s declaration of intent using the Youth platform because according to the group, it was an apolitical group not built for mainstream politics as Dr. Saraki’s declaration speech during a function involving the may have suggested.
The Not Too Young to Run Movement had reacted to Saraki’s declaration of intent through a statement it sent to Premium Times though its convener, Samson Itodo.
Read Excerpts from the Statement below;
“The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his personal political ambition. We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move.
As part of efforts to promote youth candidacy and Democratic Party primaries, the Not Too Young To Run movement commenced a series of public town hall meetings with the leadership of political parties and young aspirants to address the challenges faced by young aspirants in securing party tickets.
The movement scheduled three town hall meetings with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC); People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties. The first dialogue held today August 30, 2018 in Abuja with the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The event had in attendance the Chairman of the party Mr. Uche Secondus; Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon. Udeh Okoye, National Youth Leader of the party. The event also was attended by young aspirants registered under the Ready To Run platform.
The young aspirants advocated for a reduction in the cost of party nomination forms and requested the party to uphold internal democracy in the conduct of party primaries. In his response, the Chairman of the PDP assured the young aspirants of their support for youth candidacy in the forthcoming primaries.
Whilst addressing participants at the town hall, Senator Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the President in the 2019 elections. The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his personal political ambition. We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move.
As noted earlier, the movement reaffirms its identity as a non-partisan citizen led movement dedicated to the defense democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership. The movement restates its commitment to sustain its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and democratic party primaries.”
Bukola Saraki is the latest in line of Candidates who have declared intent to run in the forthcoming 2019 General Elections against incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
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