Linus Oota , Lafia , Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe and Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Governor–elect in Nasarawa State, Mr Abdullahi Sule, has called on the governorship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), David Ombugadu and Labaran Maku, respectively, to join him in building a united Nasarawa state.
The governor-elect, who is the immediate past group managing director of Dangote Sugar Refinery, made the call, yesterday, in Lafia, during his acceptance speech after he was declared winner of the governorship election.
“Let me use this opportunity to extend my hands of fellowship and appeal to my fellow contestants across party lines to join me in the task of building a united and peaceful Nasarawa state for the benefit of all,” he said.
Sule, who promised not to disappoint the people, said the victory has opened another vista for consolidation on the achievements recorded by the outgoing governor and his predecessor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
He assured of his preparedness to sustain the tempo of development, the foundation of which has been laid by the outgoing governor.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer for the state, Abdullahi Bala, had earlier in the day declaredi Sule of the APC winner of the governorship election.
Sule, polled 327, 229 votes to beat the candidate of PDP who got 184, 281 votes, while that of APGA polled 132,784 votes.
Also speaking , Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Balarabe Abdullahi, said the election of Sule shows that the people want more infrastructure development.
He assured that the governor- elect, who is coming from the private sector will use his connections in the business sector to attract more development and industrialise the state.
Meanwhile, the Gombe State governor-elect, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has said he will review programmmes and projects of the Dankwambo’s administration before building on them.
“That could amount to investigation of the past administration,” he said Inuwa contested and was declared winner of Saturday’s poll on the platform of APC.
Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Gombe, Inuwa, who had contested and failed twice revealed that his administration will not witch-hunt the past government or anybody.
He said his victory was made possible through his quest for equity, fairness and justice, and that his APC government will ensure those are achieved in the state.
He also said his administration will focus more on solving issues identified during his campaign in the rural areas.
“I did not just campaign in local government areas (LGA and wards, I also visited several communities so we will focus on addressing issues we identifies in the cause of our campaign,” Inuwa added.
The governor-elect maintained that the general election will go down as the best and the most keenly contested elections in the history of the country.
He also added that his doors are open to those who contested against him, but are willing to join him in taking Gombe State to the next level.
In a related development, the Borno State Governor-elect, Prof Babagana Zulum, has commended the people of the state for their resilience towards the success of the electioneering.
Zulum, in his first reaction to the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election, said the people of Borno and member of APC had proved to be movement-driven by “the philosophy of selflessness in service.”
He thanked the outgoing governor, Kashim Shettima, his wife, party leadership and other stakeholders for the roles they played in the victory of the APC in the state. He commended the outgoing governor, Shettima, for giving him the opportunity to aspire to the highest political office in the state.
“I appeal to all of you to constantly put us in your individual and group prayers. I besiege you to pray all the time that Allah guides us the kind of leaders that will justify your overwhelming mandate,” he said.