He spoke with newsmen shortly after the 10th memorial anniversary prayer of his late father, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, at the Ilorin Central Jumat Mosque.

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party will surprise Nigerians in the 2023 presidential election.

He spoke on Monday, saying the surprise will come despite the internal crisis rocking the main opposition party.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the 10th memorial anniversary prayer of his late father, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, at the Ilorin Central Jumat Mosque, he said the political differences between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and G-5 governors led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike would soon be resolved and put behind them.

The former two-term governor of Kwara State and former Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum declared: “We will surprise Nigerians. We are going to work together to better the lot of Nigeria. This is because we all think about what is good for this country. Look at the poverty that is on the street. Look at how governance has not gone well.

“We will put Nigerians first because Nigerians want PDP back in power. The little difference between Governor Wike and Alhaji Abubakar, we will resolve them and at the end of the day whether is Wike or others all of us in PDP want a better Nigeria.”

Going down memory lane on his time with his late father, Dr Saraki said: “The time he was convincing me to go into politics was not easy. In fact, it was a battle, I resisted it. But today, I can see that the greatest satisfaction in life is to see people progress.

“The only thing we can do as his children is to sustain his legacy of making sure the lives of the people are better as well as stand for the truth. Though it is not easy to stand for the truth, I am out to stand for a better Kwara.”

Dignitaries at the Fidau included Minister of State, Mine and Steel Development, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, ex-Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, former PDP national chair, Abubakar Kawu Baraje and former Youth and Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi.

Others were Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, ex-Minister of Transportation, Hon Bio Ibrahim, ex-Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof Ali Ahmad, state PDP chair, Hon Babatunde Mohammed and Senator Saraki’s wife, Toyin.

Kwara PDP 2023 governor candidate and his deputy, Alhaji Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi and Hon Gbenga Makanjuola were also present.