By ABEL JOHNGOLD
The presidential candidate of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Ph:D, FNSE, has asserted that it had become imperative for Nigerians to take responsibility and elect credible Nigerians in the forthcoming general elections to enthrone good governance.
He made the assertion during an interview with journalists that was coordinated by the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Asaba today.
Flanked by Alhaji Buba Galadima, the two times governor of Kano State who commended Prof. Chike Edozie, the Asagba of Asaba @ 98, noted that the problem of Nigeria is solvable with a leader that has the capacity and not those interested in only what they can get. Adding that the resources are available to cater for social amenities, sports, youths development and education.
Disclosing that he came to the State to let Deltans know what ‘Kwankwaso Stands for’, the NNPP Presidential candidate cautioned Nigerians against voting along ethnic and religious lines in the February 25 Presidential election.
“Nigerians should not play politics of ethnicity and religion, vote only credible and competent leaders.
“Despite coming from the same place with Bashir Today, we supported MKO Abiola in 1993 because we believed he was a more qualified candidate. In 1999, I was already an elected Governor but we stood with Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian against our own Muslim and former Governor Abubakar Rimi”. He said
Kwankwaso said he came to Delta State not only to seek the support of the electorate in the state ahead of the February 25 poll, but also to let them know that he was the solution to Nigeria’s problems and indeed the Niger Delta Region that’s underdeveloped despite the resources.
“To easily develop the Niger Delta, we need to first solve the NDDC corruption problems. I have a unique plan for the region. Too much corruption in the NDDC and I know the problem.
“The 13% derivations came to this constitution because of our recommendation in the constitutional conference of 1994-1995. Corruption in NDDC is very high. He noted.
While saying his NNPP-led government will not tolerate anyone taking up arms against another in Nigeria, the former Minister of Defense, who condemned the looting of the country’s mineral resources and linked illegal mining as one of the causes of insecurities in the country, said that his position on restructuring was that there were so many things that should be done first.
According to the Water Engineer turned politician “The issue of security is central to everything. Insecurity affects almost everything including the economy, agriculture. And social lives We have to increase our security forces from the 250,000 or so to a million.
“What Nigerians are saying is who can save this country in terms of insecurity, economy and dilapidated infrastructure that we see. Nigerians are not waiting for any person but will take decisions on their own”.
On his Party’s proposed failed alliance with Mr. Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, Kwankwaso said the proposal failed because of who’s Party to get the Presidential Ticket and he is more experienced than Obi.
“I have done various jobs; I worked for the government for 17 years as a civil servant, how many of my opponents did that, I became the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, who did it. I participated in the constitutional conference, they didn’t.
“Apart from these, I was a Minister of Defence and a senator, he didn’t, Even our education, if you look at it, you will understand that It’s not the same”. The Sharda University, Indian trained Ph:D holder in Water Engineering said.