Date: 2012-03-10

Former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki hinted yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might produce a consensus candidate for the post of its National Chairman in the March 24 national convention.
Saraki, who has been named among those working on the consensus candidate, spoke with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State ahead of the local government congress of the party slated for today (Saturday) and dismissed insinuations about rancour within the party over the choice of its leadership, saying the party will overcome whatever is being presented as obstacles to the emergence of a strong and acceptable candidate.

He also described this week's judgment by the Supreme Court which affirmed the election of his successor, Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed as pointer to the failure of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which he claimed has not been able to liberate any group in the country although it goes about with the slogan of bringing liberty to the people.

Besides, the former governor who now represents the state's central district in the senate, also commended the Federal Government over the resolution of the face-off with South Africa, insisting that given the volume of trade between the two countries which currently favours South Africa, they should pamper Nigerian visitors to their country instead of maltreating them.

His words: "All these� (insinuations) are just speculations. All we know is that as a party, we need to get a good candidate who can unite the party, a candidate that is well respected; that can move the party forward. There are a� lot of challenges for the party presently; a lot of challenges for the government that the party needs to support. But you know our convention is still about three weeks away and you know in this kind of thing, a lot of things are still going on behind the scene.