Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has explained why the party under his leadership settled for its governorship candidate in the state, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, after consultations.
Ganduje said loyalty, continuity of projects, experience, education, acceptability, relationship among others singled Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna out of other contenders for the ticket.
Speaking Sunday night at the fund raising dinner organised for the Kano APC governorship candidate by his friends which held Abuja, governor Ganduje said there is no other political party in Kano state with credentials to defeat Gawuna, adding that APC will win the election.
Ganduje said: “Many contestants showed their interest for the post of governorship in Kano state but we needed to apply dialogue and consultations. I’m sure some of them are here. Some wanted to win through discussion, some were given alternatives, some have been begged to step down and most of them did.
“Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna was a two-time chairman of local government, ALGON chairman and he was a trusted commissioner of local government and I, myself, was a commissioner of local government. One cardinal point we used is the continuity of projects because it is very important in governance; continuity in programmes, construction and articulation, so that after building a solid foundation you need continuity in order to make a real legacy.
“We have all our development issues that we have documented and without continuity things will be bastardised and you will find out that you are not going far. We believe in issue of continuity. I could remember when I was a deputy governor and I became a governor during the Kwankwaso administration. We planned all the projects he executed together and we did the implementation together.
“So, by the time he left I did not need anybody to tell me anything about any project because I knew straight where to start, I knew why the project was concealed and I had no reason to abandon it. We started a kilometer three flyover which we achieved about 20 to 30 percent and I had to complete that flyover almost four years ago, consuming over N16 billion.
“That is the power of continuity. I could recall Kwankwaso started a hydro electricity in Chalawa Dam which he started in 2014. A multi billion naira project, he left it at 30 percent or so. Muhammadu Buhari, as a presidential aspirant, at that time laid the foundation of that project and today that project is completed and Muhammadu Buhari is going to commission that project on the 30th of this month. He laid the foundation over 10 years ago. That is the power of continuity, and there are so many other things like that.
“So, Dr. Gawuna is fully aware of our programmes and our projects and we believe that is what makes legacy great – the issue of continuity. And that is the family we are breeding: continuity. We respect it and insha Allah, we will continue to build on that.
“So, ladies and gentlemen, that is why we decided to make all necessary arrangements and consultations to ensure that Dr Yusuf Gawuna emerges the gubernatorial candidate and we believe that this is a tag team to beat. There is no other political party in Kano that has the credentials and we believe we will win insh Allah. So, our today’s event is a fund-raising event as you know. Even though we running a government, the electoral laws provide for this kind of occasion. There is no doubt that we are in need of funds for logistics in order to conduct our elections in a very conducive environment and the candidate is already presented.”
Kano sate Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, however, said continuity in government policies and programmes were key to achieving good results.
Gawuna said the experience he garnered in public service has provided him with the knowledge to hit the ground running when elected as governor of Kano state.
“My experience is crucial, I am prepared to give all I have learnt over the years to serve our state.
“Our commitment is to ensure sustainance of good governance where everyone has equal opportunity to success through creation of an environment where businesses will thrive in Kano.”
Also speaking, Plateau state governor and the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong described the occasion as historic adding that it behooves on the electorates to take Kano to the next level by voting for the Gawuna/Garo joint ticket.
He described the mammoth crowd that attended the APC presidential rally held last week in the Kano metropolis as indicative that the APC is firmly rooted in Kano state.
“Gawuna will definitely take Kano to the next level. We will ensure that Kano remains one of the best states in Nigeria. Our presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu attaches great value to not only Kano but to the people of the state. The mammoth crowd we saw there is clear proof that Kano is an APC state. It is a clear case that Ganduje and Gawuna are with the people and we are with them,” he said.
For Senator Barau Jibrin, representing Kano North senatorial district said the occasion was in tandem with the practice in advanced democracies of the world where stakeholders fund the campaigns of candidates vying for elective seats.
He described Gawuna as one eminently qualified to administer the state due to his outstanding pedigree having served as the chairman of the Nasarawa Local council, and as deputy Governor of the state over the years.