Former president of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has lauded the decision of the Northern Elders’ Forum to endorse him and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus presidential aspirants in the north.
Naija News reports that the NEF ahead of the 2023 general election on Friday, confirmed Saraki and Governor Mohammed as the consensus aspirants for PDP.
The NEF is said to have followed some processes before concluding on the duo ahead of the 2023 presidential primaries of the party.
Though Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and some other stakeholders have since rejected NEF’s decision claiming it was not based on the principle of equity and transparency, Tracknews reports.
Reacting, however, to his name on the consensus list, Saraki in a short message on Sunday through his media adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the process of arriving at the Northern PDP consensus aspirants was pain-staking, thorough and transparent.
Saraki explained that the duo have initiated a process to ensure that one of them emerges as the North Presidential aspirant.
He said: “It is a welcome development. The process that eventually led to this decision cannot be faulted. It was painstaking, thorough and transparent.
“Their decision was based on equity, justice, and the need for inclusion of all. Yes, one consensus candidate has not emerged but they have initiated a process which can help the party later on.
“The process is a work-in-progress. One person will still emerge from the ongoing process here in the North.
“The South also has an example to emulate in deciding on the aspirants that should proceed to the primaries considering the zones that have not produced a President before like the South East.
“A nation like Nigeria with all the current problems needs consensus building as a way of healing the nation and enlarging grounds of co-operation, unity and understanding.”
