Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki has formally declared his intentions to run for president in the 2019 general election.
He described his intention to contest as an “answer the call of teeming youths”.
In a video posted on social media, Saraki who recently joined the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, vowed to that he would bring growth to the country.
“I have decided to answer the call of teeming youths who have asked me to run for President. Accordingly, I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said in a tweet.
I have decided to answer the call of teeming youths who have asked me to run for President. Accordingly, I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. #GrowNigeria pic.twitter.com/t2G2snD24I
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) August 30, 2018
Over the last few weeks, Saraki has been consulting with past presidents of Nigeria.
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On Wednesday, he visited the immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan at his office in Maitama, Abuja and has also visited Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Minna and Abeokuta respectively.
Jonathan commended Saraki for his handling of the national assembly and for saving Nigeria’s democracy.
“Senate President, let me use this opportunity to commend your leadership abilities,” Jonathan said.
“Looking at what is happening in the country, if not for your strong leadership, probably the National Assembly would have been in chaos and if the National Assembly is in tatters, then of course, democracy is gone.
“I am quite pleased with the kind of relationship you have with the House of Representatives members and how you have been able to hold the National Assembly together because on the day that the parliament was invaded, though the target was the Senate, the House of Representatives members were as active as, if not more active than, the Senators and that cannot happen by chance.
