Coalition of Saraki Advocates (COSA), Kaduna State Chapter, has supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on its plan not to zone the 2023 presidential election to any of the six geo-political zones.

The State Coordinator of COSA, Yasir Kamal, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna, also restated their support for a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on his presidential ambition.

He said the PDP’s decision not to zone the presidency would give Saraki an edge over other candidates in the party who are rooting for the same seat in 2023.

“We are totally in support of the PDP chairman’s decision on not zoning to contest primaries in the party and we believe it will give Saraki an edge to win the party’s presidential candidacy,” he said.

Kamal argued that the North-Central Zone deserved a shot at the presidency, saying “Despite the immense sacrifice made by people of the zone in order to build the PDP, restore and sustain democracy since 1999, no one from the zone has been considered for the job,” he said.

He called on the leadership of the PDP in the North-West to put their differences aside and work towards what would benefit the party.

“We are all PDP members, what they should think about is the party first before personal interests to promote it so as to secure victory in the 2023 presidential election,” he advised.

NAN reports that the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Ibrahim, on Feb. unequivocally said the leadership of the party was considering scrapping the idea of zoning for the 2023 Presidency.

He said the party might drop its zoning culture and throw the presidential primary open to all eligible members from all over the country.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday, lauded the Super Falcons for lifting the 2019 WAFU Cup ”following their soul-lifting display in the finals of the game last Saturday in Abidjan.”

Reports have it that the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the eighth edition of the competition.

The competition is for the women’s national teams of the member-associations of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and it will hold from June 7 to July 7 in France.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, said the country cannot but be proud about the patriotism and resilience of its female national team.

He stated that even though the victory came after a hard fight, the Super Falcons have once again re-enacted their dominance in the sub-region.

”Your courage, discipline, team spirit and above all, patriotism have brought joy and fulfillment to all football lovers across the country.

”You have done us proud by remaining a source of inspiration to the younger generation.

”You have amply demonstrated once again that any worthy goal is achievable if pursued with focus, zeal, commitment and organisation.

”Your success is our success. Congratulations!,” he said.

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While commending the coach, players and technical crew for the exceptional feat, Saraki expressed hope that the WAFU Cup would ”spur the female national team, once again, to another dazzling performance during the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship in France.”

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called on Muslim faithful to pray for a turnaround in Nigeria’s fortune as they joined their counterparts across the world to observe Ramadan.

Saraki, in a goodwill message in Abuja on Sunday to mark the beginning of the Holy Month, noted that since fasting symbolised internal cleansing and spiritual renewal, the country could benefit tremendously from prayers of the faithful during the period.

He said: “It is my prayer that Allah accepts the earnest prayers and sacrifices of the Muslim Ummah during this Holy Month.

“May we emerge better, both at the individual and national levels, after this spiritual exercise.

“Let us seek an end to recurring killings, kidnapping and all forms of insecurity in our country.

“As community leaders and members of the Islamic faith, we have a responsibility to work for peace in our communities in particular, and the country in general.

“We cannot afford to gloss over the present level of insecurity and harsh economic realities in our country.

“Therefore, let us pray earnestly for Allah’s intervention in the socio-economic life of our people.”

Saraki also called on leaders to put in place policies and programmes that would directly benefit the people and gainfully engage the nation’s teeming youths.

He added that the increasing youth population in the country was a blessing as the young people could hasten development processes.

He, however, noted that the advantage could become a time bomb if they were not deployed to good causes.

Saraki in a goodwill message to mark the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration, also commended the leadership and members of the organised labour for their patriotism in mostly choosing dialogue over industrial action in resolving trade disputes.

He expressed hope that workers would be encouraged to always put in their best to uplift and sustain the nation’s economy, “in view of the recent signing into law of a new minimum wage of N30,000.

“No nation can develop without a virile and agile workforce.

“It is trite to say that workers are the mainstay of our nation’s economy, since no policy of government, no matter how remote, will succeed without the commitment and collaboration of workers saddled with implementation.

“Having interacted with Nigerian workers and their leadership times without number, I can say without fear of contradiction that the nation’s workforce is among the best in the continent.

“All that is left is to adequately harness their abundant talents and spirit of patriotism to further improve on the nation’s economic and political development through timely and adequate motivation, training and retraining,” he said.

Saraki advised the public sector, “to work to ensure that the country realized her potentials.

“It should eliminate tardiness, increase the level of discipline and strive to provide enabling environment for the private sector to thrive with the resultant broadening of the scope of national prosperity.”

He called on the leadership of organised labour to continue to discharge their responsibilities in the overall interest of the country.

He assured that government would continue to do its best to meet the yearnings and aspirations of workers and other Nigerians through sustainable welfare programmes.

The group in a statement issued on Thursday in Ilorin also commended the maturity demonstrated by Senate President Bukola Saraki and the governor-elect, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq following the outcome of the polls.

The statement issued by the group’s President, Alhaji Bolaji Nagode, also congratulated the governor-elect on his victory.

Nagode, according to the statement, further congratulated a member of the group, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, on his election as the senator to represent Kwara Central Senatorial District in the ninth National Assembly.

According to him, the maturity and demonstration of spirit of sportsmanship of winners and losers in the elections had ensured peace and stability in Kwara.

Nagode said that the maturity displayed by the political gladiators significantly helped to douse tension and ensured sustainability of peace and security.

“ We must salute the courage and maturity of others who lost in the various elections.

“ Their astonishing emotional composure despite suffering electoral misfortunes ensured that calm, peace and orderliness prevailed across the entire state after INEC declared the various elections’ results,’’ he said.

He reminded elected officers that the task ahead was enormous and urged them to be prepared to hit the ground running after assuming office on May 29. (NAN)

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, says former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, was a quintessential public servant.

Shagari, Nigeria’s first executive president, died at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Friday evening after a brief illness. He was aged 93.

His grandson, Bello Shagari, announced the death on his Twitter handle, @Belshagy.

Saraki, whose reaction came in two tweets via his verified Twitter handle, said the late elder statesman “dedicated his best years in the service of our nation and its people.”

He said, “My family and I join the entire nation to mourn the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who led our nation in the Second Republic.

“President Shagari was a quintessential public servant, haven served in seven cabinet positions and as a legislator.

“He dedicated his best years in service of our nation and its people.

“May Allah grant him a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shagari led the country under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), between 1979 and 1983.

The former leader was born Feb. 25, 1925 in Shagari town in Sokoto State.

After his early education, he worked as a teacher for a brief period before entering politics in 1951.

In 1954, he was elected to the House of Representatives.

He served seven times in a ministerial or cabinet post as a federal minister and federal commissioner from 1958–1975, before he was elected president in 1979.