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FORMER governor of Kwara State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bukola Saraki ,has withdrawn from the race for the presidential ticket of the party, citing the need to avoid rancour that usually follow keenly contested primaries as well as what he calls the complicated nature of the 2015 presidential election.

Announcing the suspension of his bid, he said in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, in Abuja, on Sunday ,that Nigeria鈥檚 political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and 鈥渢his is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country鈥檚 overall interest.鈥? Party stakeholders, particularly ,from Kwara State, had recently started to mount pressure on the APC leader to join the presidential fray for what they saw as his positive leadership qualities and track record of achievement.

But he argued in his statement that even though, party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and bitter, as there could only be one winner, the party would be left to invest too much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.

Saraki said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year鈥檚 election. I, therefore, think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.鈥? Saraki, who was one of the brains behind the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ,which led to his defection from the party along with some state governors, recalled the circumstances leading to the formation of the defunct New PDP and his ultimate decision to join the APC.

He added: 鈥淚 have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone, who understands Nigeria鈥檚 politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.

鈥淭herefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.鈥? While he observed that the country requires a change, he said: 鈥淲e need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption. And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.鈥? In order to be in a position to engender the change and live up to the expectations of its supporters, he counseled that APC must avoid distractions and acrimony from its primaries, especially coming close to the elections.

鈥淭his is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday,鈥?he stated.

He said that he was convinced that the APC presidential would be able to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that would take the country on a different path.

Kwankwaso declares for presidency Oct 23

ALL things being equal, Kano State governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will declare his ambition to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries on October 23, Nigerian Tribune gathered from sources close to him.

Already, former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari; former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and host of other aspirants are also jostling for APC presidential ticket.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that politicking and horse trading was going on in the various blocs within the opposition party, ahead of its October 25 national special convention to endorse and ratify the presidential candidate of the party.

One of the campaign coordinators of Kwankwaso鈥檚 presidential ambition, Chief Olisaemeka Akamukali, said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the governor would be unveiling his presidential campaign next week Thursday.

According to him, the governor has embarked on nationwide consultations with party leaders and political stakeholders regarding the 2015 presidential election.

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