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Only Vibrant Leader Can Take Nigeria Out Of The Woods – Saraki

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Saraki

Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, and People Democratic Party’s Presidential aspirant has, on Tuesday, stated that Nigeria can only develop if it has a youthful and full-time president.

Saraki made this known at the residence of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja, while he was meeting with the leaders of the South-South Region.

Saraki, who lamented that Nigeria has insensitive and passive leaders, pointed out that Nigeria is presently dangerously disunited.

“Where we are as a country today is too serious for us to take lightly. The Nigeria that we have today have never been so disunited. When you go to many parts of the country, people will tell you ‘Do I truly belong? Are we part of this country called Nigeria?

“On top of that, over a number of years, we have seen series of impunity. People are not held accountable. There is no inclusiveness in government. There is insensitivity and lack of empathy. These are big issues and unless we can unite a country, everything is…., development, creation of jobs.

“So the first thing that is key to us is how do we unite this country. What kind of President can unite this country? …..

“Lack of insensitivity, these are the issues that are driving suspicion, pulling us apart. Anything else we talk, development e.t.c can’t happen unless we bring everybody back.

“As such, he must somebody that can represent …, somebody in any part of the country can say ‘ I think he represents Nigeria’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a Christian or Muslim’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a northerner or southerner’. That gives us an opportunity of a platform to move forward.” he said.

According to The Nation, the Senate president added that the country needs dedicated, young and selfless leaders for it to move forward.

The Senate President also pointed out that the countries that are getting it right did not happen by chance or trial and error.

He said “The Asian tiger we talk about didn’t happen by chance, it didn’t happen by trial and error, it happened because they have visionary leaders, leaders that know where they want to take their countries to.

“As such, when looking for a president, he must be somebody that knows what it takes to do it. I say this all the time, you cannot give what you don’t have. I said it three years ago, I was harassed for it, when I said there are governments within government. There was no mistake about it. Governments are existing with no direction. And at such you must have a leader that understands.

“There is a new order in the world today. All over the world, they are now looking for vibrant leadership, youthful leadership. Even developed democracies are going there because it is not a part-time job, it is not an easy job. Today, the President of a country is a 24-hour job if you want to do it properly, especially in an environment where you want to reform a country. So you need youthfulness, you need energy, you need vibrancy.

“And most importantly, you need to be bold and courageous in order to take those decisions that need to be taken. And also to be focused. These are the qualities that are required.” he said.

Speaking earlier, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, gave reasons why the ground has extended invitations to all presidential aspirants in the forthcoming election.

He said “Our desire is to deepen democracy in the course of our exchange by presenting the aspirants a number of national issues we feel important and critical to enable our country survive.

“We have spoken to about four presidential aspirants.
We are anxious to know more about the candidates so that in our interactions with our people who are in the political parties we can better inform them of our dialogue with the various candidates, our judgement as to how they represent the aspirations of Nigerians.