By Samuel Aruwan
Kaduna
Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday in Kaduna formally declared his ambition to aspire for the governorship of Kaduna state in an elaborate ceremony witnessed by thousands of his supporters.
The aspirant while unveiling his plan for the state said the future of the state was bleak without responsible leadership to manage its challenges.
He said: “Over the last few months, I have traversed all local government areas in Kaduna state and visited tens of communities. Some of the places I visited were so remote, isolated and cut off from government that it would have been difficult to believe that they were part of Kaduna state. I consulted widely with people –from traditional rulers, respected elders and public officials that can speak out, as well as ordinary people who have no voice but rely on someone to speak for them.”
In his welcome address, the Director General of El-Rufai Campaign Organisation, Hon. Anthony Ali Wakili, said: “Today is a statement of resolve that henceforth the people of Kaduna state will unite to bury strife and begin to build together a new chapter where our common humanity pushes us to wish each other the best, living in peace and security, and pooling our talents for development and prosperity.”
Meanwhile, former Head of State and chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who raised El-Rufai’s hands as the most competent aspirant to be governor of Kaduna state in 2015 election, said the people of the state needed a pragmatic leader to “champion its ‘rescue mission’ and to sufficiently manage public resources and also dispense justice to people of the state irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political inclinations.”
In his address, Buhari said: “I agreed to come here to raise El-Rufai’s hands as governorship aspirant of Kaduna state because he is a strong and fearless in carrying out his work.
“Kaduna is the heart of Northern Nigeria and many workers both retired and serving made Kaduna their base, because of this we need people that will manage public resources without turning it into their own pockets. We need leaders that will use public resources and bring about development, let the poor get sound education, let there be security and good health care and most importantly peace and harmony irrespective religion and ethnicity, because of this do vote him as your governor.”
