Bukola Saraki places personal ambition above national interest – APC Declares

The All Progressives Congress has accused Saraki of always putting his personal interest above that of the nation.

The accusation is contained in a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Monday.

The party levelled the allegation against the Senate President in response to a hint by Saraki that he was considering a presidential run in 2019.

Nabena said Saraki would rather rule in hell than serve in paradise. He urged Nigerians to be weary of Saraki because his ambition would always supersede that of the country.

The statement read in part, “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

“While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

“While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate president as rightly demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority in the upper legislative house.”

He added, “The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him.

“Now it is the presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.”

The APC reiterated its call on anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections.

Nabena said, “We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.

“Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations: allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was director of the defunct bank was indicted over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury).

“Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of state government assets into his and his cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State.”

The statement further accused the Senate President of having a history of “betrayals; treachery and sabotage – family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, and government.”

It further said Saraki was questioned by the police Special Fraud Unit over a N11bn financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank

When contacted, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu, said, “We won’t dignify him (Nabena) with a response.”