APC stakeholders endorse Buhari, Ganduje for second term

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, have adopted President Muhammadu Buhari and governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as their candidates for second term.
The party leaders passed the vote of confidence at the state Government House, yesterday.
The president did not indicate whether he accepted or decline the endorsement in his speech, even after the party leaders promised to provide the nomination forms for him.
Buhari merely beamed with smiles and went on to underscore the need for unity in the party and among the diverse peoples of Nigeria.
The APC stakeholders meeting, held on the margins of the President’s state visit to Kano, was attended by Governor Ganduje, his deputy, Professor Hafizu Abubakar, the state APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas and the members of the state executive committee, among others.
Also in attendance were two of the state’s senators; Senator Kabiru Gaya and Senator Barau Jibrin, chip whip of the House Alhassan Doguwa and other members of the House of Representatives from the state; the Speaker and 34 of the 40 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and the 44 party Local Government Chairmen, their deputies and the Local Government Area secretaries of the APC.
Others are Governor Muhammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and other leaders of the party in his state.
Speaking, he State’s Chairman of the APC, Abbas said they endorsed the President on his achievements in the last two years especially in the fields of security, war against corruption and the restructuring of the economy.
“Security is important for everyone, not just for Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
“It even more so for us as a commercial and industrial state. We are convinced that you are best for these times when the country has begun to muster energy and resources to develop agriculture, infrastructure and empower the younger citizens,” Abbas said.
Speaking on a humorous note, Governor Ganduje said the party was prepared to drag the President to court to force his acceptance of the second term ticket.
In his response, President Buhari said he understood the clamour by the ordinary people on the streets who raised four fingers on each arm, ‘’meaning four-plus-four’’.
He, however, stressed the need to sanitize party politics by ridding it of vote buying and violence.
“What I saw in the elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers, the use of money and those headless bodies really upset me. I don’t wish to see that anywhere. I would not have won if money and killing was the modus of operation. That is my view of politics,” the President said.