Former Senate President Bukola Saraki visited Ogun state on Monday to seek support from delegates ahead of the May 28 Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries.
Saraki met with PDP leaders, including gubernatorial hopeful Ladi Adebutu and state party vice president Leye Odunjo, at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that Mr. Saraki is one of the PDP presidential hopefuls seeking the party’s ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
His visit came days after another presidential hopeful and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, visited the state to court delegates as well.
While seeking votes from delegates, Mr. Saraki urged them not to vote based on sentiment.
He said that from his inquiries across the country, he had found that Nigerians were not interested in the political, ethnic or religious leanings of the applicants.
“Nigerians yearn for a candidate who truly understands the nation’s challenges and who is wise, experienced and courageous enough to take the bold and necessary steps to reposition the country.
“Nigerians want a candidate who will serve as a bridge between the young and old generations, a bridge between North and South, and a bridge between Christians and Muslims.
“With all sense of modesty, I am that person whom God has endowed with all these qualities and more, to lead the nation to an enviable height,” he said.
The PDP chief recalled the “great job” he did in 2021 to restore party peace in Ogun after more than a decade of internal disputes.
“I was not thinking about the elections when, in my capacity as national chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, I once restored peace to the party in this state.
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“I think that based on my background and experience as a former president of the Senate, as well as my closeness to the people of Ogun where my mother is from, my talk should not be much.
“I hereby ask you to support my presidential ambition by voting for me to secure the party’s ticket in the upcoming primary election,” he said.
In response, Mr. Adebutu commended Mr. Saraki for the critical role he played in restoring the unity of the state and assured him that his good deeds would be rewarded.
NAN reports that Mr. Saraki had previously visited and had a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
(YAYA)