Saraki Will Not Contest Against Buhari In 2019 – Baba-Ahmed

The Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has given reasons why his boss will not contest for presidential election in 2019.

According to him, as long as President Muhammadu Buhari decides to re-contest the position, Saraki will not contest.

He added the reason is because the Senate president sees and respect President Buhari as a father.

Baba-Ahmed said: “There is no way Senator Bukola Saraki will contest for president in 2019 as long as President Buhari will contest. This I know very well because I work with him and I should know that.

“But if President Buhari says he will not re-contest the position, that is a different case. The Senate President will not contest against President Buhari because he sees and respected him as a father.

“The same thing happened in 2011 and 2015 if you remember. Saraki declined to contest against him; instead, he joined others to work for the success of the President in the 2015 elections.”

Speaking on a weekly Hausa Programme aired on DITV/Alheri Radio monitored in Kaduna on Saturday, Baba-Ahmed said he’s not aware if President Buhari will contest or not in 2019.

“I’m not President Buhari’s spokesman but I see nothing wrong if he decides to contest,” he said.

He equally said any party member that feels he/she is interested in the position can also try his luck since it’s not against the party’s constitution.

He urged President ‎Buhari to reshuffle his cabinets to enable him fulfil all his campaign promises to Nigerians.

“There is no doubt there are ministers that are incompetent in this administration and I think the sooner President Buhari makes changes the better for the party and his administration,” he said.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue to support APC as a party and President Buhari’s administration as they work towards moving the nation to greater height.