The Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has explained 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.
