The Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril Maigwari, has advised all candidates vying for elective offices under all political parties in the state to honour all their campaign promises when elected into offices.
The Emir gave the advice at the weekend when the Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Isah Ashiru, his running mate, Hon. Marshal Katung, PDP bigwigs and other PDP candidates under Giwa constituency, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace ahead of their campaign rally in the town.
The Emir, who had in the past lamented severally for sustainable intervention to end kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and sundry crimes in Birnin Gwari, told his guests that it was very important that politicians kept their promises when voted to offices. “I am happy to welcome you to this palace. I know many of you who are on this entourage dating back many years ago.
“I know Ashiru very well. He is like a son to me. All I want to advice him is in a principle I affirmed to, which is also in prominent Islamic teachings – ‘power is given by Allah, and power is taken by him and given to whosoever he choses’.
“You all know the problem that Birnin Gwari has been facing over insecurity. All I want to advice is that whoever is voted into office, should do whatever he can do to make sure he fulfils all his promises made during his campaign. That applies to all candidates here. As a royal father, my assignment is to advise you to be of good conduct with your supporters and to ask for Allah’s blessings on your desires,’ he said.
Hon. Ashiru, in his remarks, told the Emir that he was not in the palace to play politics but to ask for blessings and guidance. “As a loyal son, I have come to my father with my people to seek for blessing and words of wisdom that will guide us in this journey. I have also no right to barge on this historical Emirate and just seek for the votes of your subjects without your consent.”
The PDP Senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, Malam Lawal Abubakar (Mr. LA) told the gathering that he was very depressed with the grim insecurity in Birnin Gwari. “Birnin Gwari shall be free from the grips of bandits and gangsters when Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is voted to power and Hon. Ashiru becomes governor of Kaduna state when you vote them.
“If you vote me as your Senator, with our House of Reps and Kaduna State House of Assembly candidates, you can be assured that we shall never sleep as long as Birnin Gwari does not sleep. That is the reason why Atiku has consistently mentioned Birnin Gwari as one of his main areas of intervention when voted to power.”
At the venue, not less 245 women, described as female foot soldiers and vote mobilisers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Birnin Gwari LGA left APC for PDP at the campaign rally. A few of the women, who took turn to speak, all cited worsening insecurity and poverty arising from poor welfare of the APC for their action.
“I am well known in this areas for my role in ensuring that the APC won in 2015, “Hajiya Gambo Alhassan said. “The APC has allowed ravaging insecurity to take over Birnin Gwari, coupled with hunger and other problems, contrary to its promise in 2015. Everyday when our husbands and sons go out to look for daily food, we are not sure if they will return. You may even be sleeping in your house and bandits will come and take you away. My pregnant daughter was kidnapped for 11 horrifying days before she was released.”
The PDP campaign train moves to Kafanchan on Tuesday.
