Saraki and Buhari
Speaking while addressing PDP delegates in Oyo State during a
meeting where he solicited their votes, 2019 presidential aspirant,
Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said Nigerians who voted President Muhammadu
Buhari in 2015 had been shortchanged because instead of the President, a
few people who constituted themselves as a cabal had been ruling them.
According to PUNCH, Saraki said that a few influential world
Presidents who had visited Nigeria under the present administration did
not stay beyond a few hours because they were convinced that their host
did not understand their mission or contributed to the discussion as
expected.
He also said that Nigeria lacked the progress it deserved because
voting patterns were determined by religion, language and ethnicity
instead of capacity and merit.
Saraki said, “Over the years, we have made mistakes in electing
people based on sentiment. Yes, it is time we corrected it. We will
correct it because we are capable. Over the years, we have voted for
people based on religion, the language they speak and where they came
from in Nigeria. We need people who have the courage, capacity, ability
and determination.
“I have shown over the years, particularly in the recent years
that one has the opportunity of leadership, that I have the capacity to
take Nigeria forward. The countries that have done well did so not by
bringing leaders by chance but because they looked for capable leaders.
It is time to pick such a leader.
“The President we have now does not understand leadership. We
have endured him for more than three years but it is the same thing.
Nigerians voted for him (Buhari) but a cabal is ruling the country. That
is not what democracy means. This time, let us look for who can do it.
In Nigeria today, we do not have unity. What we need in the present
world is a digital President.
“When your president sits with world presidents, he should be
able to understand what they are saying. That is why presidents who have
visited the country did not stay more than a few hours. But when they
know that their host understands them, they will stay longer and explore
investment opportunities in Nigeria.”