The minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, has vowed to unseat the Saraki political dynasty during the next year’s general elections in Kwara state.

Abubakar told newsmen in Ilorin that his major preoccupation as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is to ensure a total victory for the party in the elections.

Also speaking on the perceived crisis among 13 PDP governorship aspirants in state, the minister , said there is no cause for alarm.

He described proliferation of governorship aspirants in Kwara State PDP as future of democracy in the state, adding that leadership of the party had made moves to get some aspirants to step down before the primaries.

On the continued onslaught of Boko Haram, Suleiman blamed the development on alleged animosity the country share with Francophone West African countries.
The minister, who said Nigeria should revisit its Francophone policy, added that the issue of Boko Haram insurgency is a political issue and fundamentally, a military issue.

“First, the issue of terrorism is a global issue, regional issue and sub regional issue. Second, the terrorism we have in Nigeria have internal and external dimensions to it. Some of the terrorists are not just Nigerians, they are not operating from Nigeria, they are operating from Nigerian borders and they have some back up from neighbouring countries.

“When you look at Nigeria history, we have been consistent in the kind of animosity we share with the Francophone West African countries. Nigeria should revisit, for instance, our francophone policy. We should look at the French policy to Nigeria. We should at the position of France to Nigeria security. We should look at what has been, over the years, the strategy in the areas of politics, what has been Nigeria relations, attitude, orientation, conduct, posture of France to Nigeria.

“Again, we still need to go back to what has been the attitude of France and French government to Boko Haram issue in our ability to fight terrorism.
“I don’t think Boko Haram are having their ways because government is not working. They are having their ways because we are not getting enough support from the sub region. It’s fundamental.

“Third, people should be mindful of one thing when they try to criticise President Jonathan on issue of terrorism. We should know that when it comes to fighting terrorism, counter terrorism and warfare, Presidents do not go to war. It’s the handiwork of the armed forces. It’s the primary responsibility of the military. And let me say this, Nigeria armed forces today is being dominated by northerners and the Boko Haram spate is in the north. If there is a problem there, we look at out tactics, military operation and suspect some subversive tendencies in the armed forces. The IGP is from the north, the NSA chief is from the North, the chief of Defence Staff is from the North. So, why must anyone blame the president? I think we should appreciate what the man is doing by mobilising all these forces. So, if there’s problem therefore, we should ask questions from the military and troops. Warfare or counter terrorism is not just about the president. A lot of factors come in military strategy. And one of it is what I call Grand national strategy. I think we should appreciate the president on what he has done and see how we can collectively devise other mechanism to get solution to the problem rather than heaping the blame on president.

“Yes, it’s a political issue, but fundamentally a military issue. And am not saying they’ve not tried”, he said.