Former vice president Namadi Sambo has declared his support for Bukola Saraki’s presidential bid, stressing that the 59-year-old was strong and healthy enough to handle the rigours of the presidency.
Describing the former senate president as one who has the capacity and leadership experience and prowess to lead Nigeria, Sambo said he has always known the Ex-lawmaker cares about Kaduna state, and the northwest region of the country.
The former vice president speaking during a meeting with Saraki and some PDP delegates in Kaduna said that the ex-lawmaker is a team player.
Sambo reliving some of his moments as a governor in Kaduna said that Saraki gave special attention to the state when he was the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
The ex-VP who also described Saraki as an honest person, noted that he had formed the Peer Review Mechanism that allowed consultants to go state-by-state to report the development plans and progress of each state to the Governors Forum.
According to him, this mechanism helped all the governors to meet the plans and objectives of the PDP government at the time.
Sambo also noted that the office of the president needed people like Saraki to deliver development and a sustainable economy to the Nigerian people.
Meanwhile, a report by the Daily Sun newspaper indicates that Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, and former senate president, Bukola Saraki have refused to step down for each other ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The duo were chosen as the consensus candidates of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) recently as the preferred presidential aspirants of northern Nigeria.
According to the report, both of them have come under intense pressure as the northern elders intensify efforts to get one of them to step down, but they are yet to budge.
A source quoted in the report said the move being anchored by a former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) is to ensure the aspirants rally round the consensus candidate in the primary which comes up late this month.
He said the northern leaders have insisted that either Mohammed or Saraki must step down for the other to reduce friction during the primary.
However, Governor Bala Mohammed has stated that he has the wealth of knowledge and experience to lead Nigeria, he said he will only step down for Saraki if he is convinced beyond reasonable doubts that he will do a better job come 2023.
When asked if he would step down for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is considered to be one of the political heavy-weights who is vying for the top job, Bala said: “why can’t Atiku step down for me”.
Governor Bala explained that the only person who he would step down for is Goodluck Jonathan if he declares his interest to run for president.
The governor said “I stand by my commitment not to contest against Jonathan.”
