From: Ali Abare, Gombe
A leading aspirant in the 2019 Gombe State gubernatorial election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Habu Muazu, has said that the party stands to lose the coming governorship election if concrete steps were not taken to address the conflict within the party.
Muazu raised this alarm, on Wednesday, while meeting with officials of the party from the ward to the local government level in Billiri, in Billiri Local Government Area of the state.
He said if the in-fighting between the governorship aspirants of the party were not put to rest before the election, the APC could lose the election again to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The aspirant, who met the party officials, as part of his consultations with stakeholders of the party from across the 11 council areas in the state, cautioned members and supporters of the party against acts capable of truncating the aspiration of the party to take over the from the PDP.
He told the tumultuous crowd that turned up at the event to be wary of “Abuja politicians” who would come to select few individuals among them to be taken to Abuja for monetary settlement in order to compromise the wish of the people.
His words, “Our election takes place here in Gombe. We must not allow people living outside the state to compromise our desire to elect leaders that knows and understands the plight of the people,” he said.
He spoke on the need for the party to conduct an open and credible primaries, stressing that the time has passed when candidates are imposed on the electorates.
While urging members and supporters of the APC to close ranks and unite to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 election, Muazu harped on the need to elect seasoned politicians who would carry the people.
He explained further that the Tangale people known for their block votes during elections, would be adequately rewarded if they supported his governorship ambition.
“I have not held any public office in my life. If you don’t know me personally, you must have heard my name. Most importantly, you must have benefited from my contribution towards community service in your area,” he said.
He also cautioned the people to be wary of moneybags who would buy there conscience only to abandon them after winning elections.
“If they come with their money just before the election, ask them what they did to your communities while they held lofty political offices,” Muazu told the crowd at the event.
He promised to unfold a special programme towards empowering mostly women and youths through skills acquisition training both within the country and abroad.
Earlier in a welcome address, APC Billiri Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Timothy Seth, while commending the aspirant for his decision to vie for the position of governor, described Habu Muazu as a seasoned politician who knows and understands the problems of the people.
He disclosed that Alhaji Muazu has so far constructed over 40 boreholes to address the perrenial water scarcity in the area.
Seth added that with the coming of the aspirant into the party, “he has rejuvenated activities of the APC in the state”.
He restated the need for members and supporters of the party to unite in order to ensure victory for the APC come 2019.