Gbemisola Saraki, a former senator and daughter of late godfather of Kwara politics, Olusola Saraki, has once again declared her intent to contest the governorship seat in that state, this time as an aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She disclosed this in “Letter of Intent,” dated October 2, addressed to the chairman of the state chapter of the PDP and its Elders Committee, saying she resolved to contest after state-wide consultations, which she said took her several months.
Naijalog recalls that Ms. Saraki contested and lost to the incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was supported by her brother, Bukola Saraki, the then governor in 2011.
Mrs Saraki contested on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, while , Ahmed, ran on the ticket of the PDP.
Mr. Ahmed has since defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and last week is re-election bid got the needed boost, as major stakeholders endorsed his candidacy.
Parts of the letter obtained by Naijalog reads:
“I have the pleasure to inform you that after several months of statewide consultations, I have resolved to contest for the position of the governor of Kwara State under the platform of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 General Elections,” Ms. Saraki said.
“This decision is informed, on the one hand, by calls by family members, friends and several thousands of members of our party who are convinced about my capacity to lead the state out of its present state of hopelessness and stagnation which the ruling party has deliberately thrown it into.
“On the other hand, it is informed by the positive reactions received so far from majority of elders and stakeholders of our party, and other members of the public during my statewide consultations.
“Thus, in obedience to their clarion calls, and a personal conviction that Kwara State can be better governed, I have decided to offer myself to the service of the good people of Kwara state.”
The former senator, who is a younger sister of a former governor of the state, Bukola Saraki, stated that as an aspirant, she was under no illusion that the stakes were high.
“But I also know that we face an electorate that has been exhausted by broken promises, bad governance, collapse infrastructure, an ailing economy, and a host of other problems that seem to defy solutions.
“But with God on our side, and the unalloyed support of our party, I believe I would bring my experience and connection to bear to salvage our dear state from the brink of collapse,” she said.
She assured that party leadership that she was committed to free, fair and transparent primaries among her co-aspirants in the PDP.
Ms. Saraki also commended the party from exempting the female aspirants in the state from paying the mandatory minimum levy of N500, 000, Ms. Saraki, however, noted that she had contributed more than that amount to its progress.
