Olusola Saraki Quits PDP

Posted by admin Elections 2011, Kwara, Party Politics, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), State News Saturday, January 1st, 2011

THE political icon of Kwara State, Dr Olusola Saraki has publicly declared his intention to quit the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) ahead of the 2011 general elections.He however failed to mention the exact party he would lead his numerous supporters to during the elections.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in his Ilorin country home, Saraki, after hosting the National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonnanya Onu said his decision to quit the PDP could not be divorced from the way his perceived allies were allegedly shut out of the recently held ward congress elections of the party.
Saraki, who said he was never a card-carrying member of the PDP, disclosed that he had already put President Goodluck Jonathan into confidence over his recent decision.

Sources said Saraki may tomorrow disclose the new party he would embrace for the purposes of the election. At present, the old politician is believed to be at loggerheads with his biological son, the incumbent Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki who is said to be opposed to his father’s decision to make his biological daughter, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, succeed him as the governor.The governor had allegedly instructed some of his commissioners to obtain forms to contest the governorship against his sister.

Following the ward congresses, it was alleged that the candidates of the elder Saraki were shut out, leading to the emergence of all the candidates of the incumbent as delegates for the forthcoming elections.
The development may have prompted the elder Saraki to quit the PDP to enable him realize his ambition.
Said he: “They (PDP) locked the door of the party. I can’t enter unless you want me to break the door, which I am not ready to do. The law of the PDP is difficult to break.

“I recently told President Goodluck Jonathan about this a few days ago and he said he would look into it. But I told him I would leave the PDP. The party’s constitution says that you conduct primaries through delegates. But having locked the door against my people, I have to leave.”

Describing himself as a law-abiding citizen, he added: “The best thing in the circumstances is to leave. As I have left, I know that every other person who loves me must follow me.”

Saraki, who bemoaned the alleged gulf that has been created between him and his governor son, noted that his long absence from Ilorin due to his sojourn abroad for medical care, caused the gulf.
He therefore implored all his lovers to help him pray to God “to enable my son to come back home.”

He added: “Very soon, we will put our heads together and decide where we are going to. The masses are waiting. I don’t have any quarrel with my son. He went to Abuja to contribute his quota to the national growth. But when he came back home, we discovered that people he put in care had done a lot of havoc. My prayer is that my son should come back home.”

– Guardian

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