Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki
Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday said the Northern Political Leaders Forum would soon a consensus presidential aspirant.
In an interview with Reuters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the presidential aspirant said the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led committee would name the choice contender to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan for the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket before the end of November.
The four contenders on the list are Saraki; ex-National Security Adviser, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd.); erstwhile vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; and former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
According to Saraki, “There are discussions going on. I think that will be concluded in maximum of a week or two. I don’t think there will be that much difficulty in reaching a consensus because some of the views and policies are shared by all, so I don‘t see a problem there.”
Saraki, who is the chairman of the influential Nigerian Governors’ Forum, told Reuters that he would develop the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, as a means of creating millions of jobs. He also said he would improve infrastructure, electricity supply, education and health.
“Before I became governor, Kwara was like number 24 in rice production. Now, we are number two over the period and we have companies coming to invest in rice processing. We can do that in most parts of Nigeria,” Saraki said.
He said improved electricity distribution in Kwara State meant manufacturers had reliable power at least 18 hours a day, saving billions of naira in diesel costs to fuel their own generators.
“If we have a (PDP) convention and it is transparent and I defeat Jonathan ... he will accept. If Jonathan defeats me, as a democrat, I will accept. Nigeria is bigger than each one of us,” he stated.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011183453393
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