‘I wish my people the best’ — Saraki breaks silence on ‘shocking’ defeat

Senate President Bukola Saraki has reacted to his loss in Saturday’s election, wishing the people of the state the best.

Ibrahim Oloriegbe, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had defeated Saraki who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC also cleared seats in the house of reps and senate.

In a statement on Tuesday, Saraki said those who emerged winners of Saturday’s polls in Kwara are not his enemies.

He said although the elections were generally peaceful, card readers were not used in over 70 percent of the polling units, leading to cases of over voting.

“Whatever the final outcome of the election, I wish the candidates that have emerged all the best in their attempts to serve our people,”Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki’s media aide, quoted him as saying.

“It is my prayers that the good people of Kwara State will always have the best from any government both at state and federal levels.

“As a product of a family and a political structure that is, from its foundation, devoted to the service and development of our state and its people, it is my wish that our people will always have a good deal at all times.

“The new development will even provide the people the opportunity to compare and contrast. After all, the people who have emerged from last Saturday’s election are not my enemies. They are fellow Kwarans.”

The senate president said candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the best for Kwara.

“Therefore, I enjoin our people to come out en mass on election day and vote for them. I am going to work with our party leaders to further sell the PDP candidates to the general public,” he said.

“I thank all Nigerians for their goodwill and to enjoin all of us that as we patiently await the outcome of the presidential election, we pray for peace, unity and genuine development in our country.

“It is also our prayers that at all times, the wish of the people will always prevail in the choice of the leadership and the electorate will always enjoy the benefit of good governance.”