From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
When, on November last year, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje inaugurated various Committees for the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaigns in Kano ahead the forthcoming general elections, he did not mince words as he predicted landslide victory for the party in Kano at all levels of the elections: from presidential, National Assembly, governorship to state House of Assembly. Ganduje maintained that APC will keep its grip on power in Kano. He made the declaration while inaugurating the Gawuna/Garo Campaign Council at Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall.
According to him, the modest achievements recorded by his administration so far are more than enough reasons Kano people will massively vote APC into power come 2023. He inaugurated various committees designed to work under the Council towards ensuring victory for the party’s gubernatorial candidate and the entire victory of the party in 2023 general elections.
Ganduje urged members of the campaign council and those of the committees to justify the confidence reposed in them by working hard to ensure the victory of the APC in the forthcoming elections. He also used the occasion to announce two new campaign initiatives which are currently enabling the APC to achieving peaceful and hilarious campaigns across nooks and crannies of the state.
The AUTHORITY observed that the APC campaign trains are penetrating the hinterlands, spending days and nights in remote Local Government Areas of the state. They are engaging all classes of people, giving them reasons they should return the party to power in Kano. Indeed, the engagements are without rancour, devoid of violence, but with passionate appeal to winning the people’s votes.
Ganduje who is the chairman of Gawuna/Garo Campaign Council has continued to described the APC governorship candidate (Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna) and his running-mate, (Murtala Sule Garo) as saleable and well prepared to win the election.
Speaking during the flag-off of the governorsgip campaigns in Gaya last year November, Ganduje declared that Gawuna has the political stamina to win the election and succeed him in 2023. He likened Gawuna’s political pedigree to his own, describing his Deputy as a formidable governorship candidate who has been tested and trusted. Ganduje maintained that, ”our gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has political history similar to mine. He was Local Government chairman of the most populous Local Government in Nigeria, Nassarawa Local Government and he was Commissioner of Agriculture, among other things. His running-mate, Murtala Sule Garo was Llocal Government chairman. He was the state chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and he was Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs. All our contestants are in the best position to govern the state. We are, therefore, challenging all other political parties to present to our state similar candidates, if they can.”
In his remarks, the state APC chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, insisted that victory for the party in the 2023 elections in Kano is non-negotiable, considering the level of support being enjoyed by all candidates vying for elections under APC. He said: “people are saying that I should stop saying the APC would capture Kano…, but I want to insist that APC would capture Kano… We have today, demonstrated our resolve of winning the election from top to bottom by 2023 general elections. Gaya, as you know, is the home of APC. No political party can match our strength and our clout. We are determined to take the bull by the horn in maintaining our dominance. Gawuna is our candidate and he is going to be the next governor of Kano state. We have made all the necessary preparations for the colourful event where our gubernatorial candidate would receive his flag from the President who would be here in Kano for the purpose of giving him the flag. “
Gawuna, in his speech, said he is fully prepared for the battle ahead knowing that he has the firm support of his boss, Ganduje and other party stalwarts. “I want to believe that my destiny is in the hands of God and that I have no iota of doubt that God willing, nothing would stop me from winning the race,” he added.
Speaking in Kibiya few days ago, Ganduje insisted that Kano will repeat 1993 presidential election results come February. He urged the people to come out en masse and vote for APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ganduje predicted that Kano state would repeat what happened during 1993 presidential election when the state supported a Southern candidate and rejected Kano citizen. “That showed political maturity and dexterity of Kano citizens. We voted for Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and rejected Bashir Othman Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Because we all believed in national integration and competence,” he added.
He made the statement, during a campaign tour with the APC candidates vying for different positions for the forthcoming general elections, as he visited the District Head of Kibiya, Sunusi Abubakar Ila, after holding a campaign rally and consultations in Rano and Bunkure. Ganduje passed the night in Rano, the headquarter of Rano Emirate with his entourage.
Ganduje reminded Nigerians that, the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported Northerners on different occasions to clinch the presidency, pointing out that: “Tinubu was an instrument behind making Atiku Abubakar to become the presidential candidate of Action Congress (AC). He also provided another platform for Nuhu Ribadu to contest for the presidency under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). As rotational as it is, the presidential contest in the country, provides that, power rotates from North to South and vice versa. Therefore, Asiwaju Tinubu worked very hard to maintain the equation. Hence, his support for Northern Presidential candidates in the past. One good thing deserves another. We have no other option now, than to support his candidature.”
Governor Ganduje emphasized that, Tinubu, who he described as the only deserving and most competent presidential candidate in the forthcoming election, is being supported by the North because of his (Tinubu) firm belief in nation building, all-encompassing pedigree, firm belief in human and national development among other factors.
He, however, introduced all other candidates vying for the positions of Senator, membership of House of Representatives and State Assembly and gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial positions, while assuring the people that, “I am presenting to all, our most competent and deserving contestants, who cannot be mates to all other contestants from all other opposition parties.”
In Dawakin Kudu, Warawa and its environs, Gawuna who spoke on behalf of Ganduje on Friday, urged the people to pray for a peaceful and violent-free campaigns and elections. He also expressed optimism that he and other APC candidates would emerge victorious in Kano during the forthcoming general elections. Gawuna who addressed thousands of residents and APC supporters Dawakin Kudu and Warawa Local Government Areas of the state, said he was speaking on behalf of Governor Ganduje who was unavoidably absent, but sent his warm regards and greetings to the people of the area.
“Do not allow anybody to provoke you to commit violent acts; there is no need for violence.God has already done it for us and victory is ours. By the grace of God, these coming elections would be conducted peacefully; nobody will be allowed to forment trouble in Kano State; God will answer our prayers,” Gawuna said. He also appealed to the people to vote for the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Running Mate, Senator Kashim Shettima,to become the next President and Vice President of Nigeria, respectively, saying that they have the capacity to transform the nation. The APC Governorship Candidate then urged the people of the area to vote for him and his Running Mate, Hon.Murtala Sule Garo, during the March governorship election, to enable them to continue with the laudable programmes of the Ganduje administration. He named such programmes to include provision of quality infrastructure, healthcare, economic development, youth and women empowerment, security of lives and property, sustenance of peace and harmony in the state.
The campaign team, however, paid courtesy call on the District Head of Warawa and Fagacin Gaya, Alhaji Faruku Abdullahi. Gawuna informed the traditional ruler that they were in Warawa on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in continuation of their campaign tour to Local Government Areas of the state to canvas for the people’s votes for himself and other APC candidates ahead of the February and March elections. The APC gubernitorial candidate described his visit to Warawa as a home-coming and appealed to the District Head for his support and prayers to enable them achieve victory in the forthcoming elections.
According to him, if elected as the next Governor of the state alongside his Deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, he would continue with the laudable development programmes of Ganduje, which include provision of infrastructure and economic empowerment of youths and women.
Responding,the Fagacin Gaya warmly welcomed the campaign team and assured them of his prayers for their success.
The AUTHORITY reports that the peaceful and well-organized pace at which the APC campaign trains are moving round within Kano metropolis, and into the hinterlands have continued to endear the party and its candidates into the minds of the electorate. More so, the recent North-West rally for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, which has been described by pundits as the mother of all rallies, pulling unprecedented crowd, ever seen in political gatherings in recent times, has also gone a long way to signing the party into victory in Kano during the February and March general elections.
