APC will fund states better than PDP, says Saraki

Former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, has declared that a Federal Government-led All Progressives Party (APC), from May 29, would fund states and local governments better than what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did since 1999.
Saraki, Chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, said with the mandate given to the APC by Nigerians on March 28 and April 11, better days are ahead in the country.
He also declared that Rivers State elections must be investigated because the process was fraught with irregularities.
Reliving the challenges he faced in the PDP before defecting to the APC with his followers, he said: “Everybody knew how President Goodluck Jonathan told the world that they would take Kwara back to PDP. Normally under that kind of situation when people see almighty power, people tend to leave you. But the people of Kwara did not leave us and that is why I am entirely grateful to them. They stood by us, despite the threat coming from the centre.
“The period was fraught with intimidation, blackmail and all sorts. There was nothing they did not use to threaten people, but Kwarans said no and they gave us a result that is even better than 2011. In 2011, we did not have the whole 24 members’ state House of Assembly.
“This victory is not only for APC, it is for all Nigerians. I say this with all sincerity because it was the determination of Nigerians and their commitment to stand for what they believed in that got us thus far. In the past, Nigerians and voters in general would not come out to vote and even when they came, it was not with conviction; they were frustrated with the process. But this time around, it was clear that Nigerians were convinced that APC represents change and it was time and it was time for a new Nigeria.
“I always believe that we are opening a new chapter in this country. Nigeria can never be the same again. I am very convinced about that; that to me is the greatest achievement. The victory of APC in the elections is small to me compared to that of Nigeria.
“The Nigeria we are starting now is the one all of us have been wishing for. That is fantastic for all of us and for our democracy because we will begin to see good governance. Now, all our elected officers must be accountable and deliver dividends of democracy to all. Also, it will help build our political parties. It is good for our democracy.
“It is our honest view that we have now put in place a more credible person who will be accountable. There will be better funding at both the state and local government levels and we will begin to see improvement at the state and local government levels. We have seen what has happened to the exchange rate. Just in this period now, the rate has appreciated for about 30 per cent; that is because President Buhari is coming and APC is forming the government.
“I don’t think anybody can deny the fact that compared to other states of the country, that there was something wrong in the Rivers State election. That already raises a red flag that something has gone wrong there. That needs to be investigated and I think it is only fair for the people of Rivers to have an election that is similar to what happened to other parts of the country.
“There is nothing that should be special about Rivers that people should be deprived of anything that is not up to standard that is acceptable today in what you call an election. I think the responsibility lies on INEC and elections petition tribunal to rectify that anomaly. There are two issues here. There is the issue of the election itself and the issue of what happened in Rivers. How do we ensure normal democratic process in Rivers State? We cannot accept that as a norm.
“I think more importantly, we must ensure that people that violated the electoral laws must be punished. It is the only way in subsequent elections people will respect the law. We must begin to hold people responsible for the actions that they commit during elections. In all civilised societies, going for an election should not be an issue in which one’s life is threatened.”