APGA governorship candidate in Nasarawa State Mr. Labaran Maku has expressed confidence in defeating the APC gubernatorial candidate, Governor Tanko Al-Makura and the PDP flagbearer, Yusuf Agabi, in this year’s general election.
The immediate past Information Minister based his confidence on the overwhelming support he had been receiving from people across the state since his emergence as the governorship candidate of APGA.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting in Keffi with representatives of various ethnic groups in Keffi West Senatorial Zone, Mr. Maku said gone were the days when the electorate vote for political parties because they now look for the right people with the requisite experience and exposure to lead them to economic prosperity, unity, peace and development.
“The truth of the matter is that those parties (APC, PDP) are in trouble right now because Nigerians have gone beyond fielding people that are not capable or competent. In this state, I am a household name because I have worked here. This is my state, I was born and bred here. I have served this state since my teaching career in the primary school up to deputy governor, so they know who I am. Nationally, I have served Nigeria. My record of service, capacity, ability commitment and passion for Nigeria are well known to the people of Nigeria and Nasarawa State.
“The mistake people are thinking is that you can just field anybody and win election. We have gone beyond that. If you field people that people don’t want, you will lose election. In Nasarawa State come February 2015, you are going to see that the people of Nasarawa State will overwhelmingly vote for me. My supporters cut across PDP and APC,” he stated.
Mr. Maku said he would have a smooth ride to the Government House in Lafia because people were disenchanted with the APC rule due to the violence that gripped the state in the last four years while the PDP on the other hand fielded an unpopular candidate who would not make any impact in the electioneering.
The APGA governorship candidate insisted that he was not afraid of the incumbency factor because Governor Al-Makura had lost confidence of the people due to his inability to halt the activities of marauding mercenaries who had destroyed many towns and villages and disrupted the social and economic lives of the people.
He promised to bring peace to the state by reconciling communities and isolating the insurgents.
The former Information Minister who maintained that the PDP denied him its ticket because of some sentiments, promised to be fair and just to all the ethnic and religious groups living in Nasarawa State in order to promote peace, unity and development when elected governor.
He pledged to give women prominent role in his proposed government to utilize their skills and intellect in developing the state, and criticized Governor Al-Makura for appointing only one woman as commissioner in his cabinet.
Mr. Maku equally drummed up support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan whom he described as the presidential candidate of APGA and urged the people of Nasarawa State to vote for the president en masse because he had shown the vision and capacity to develop the country.
Mr. Maku said Nasarawa State had never had it so good like under the Jonathan administration and he listed the construction of Lafia-Doma, Lafia-Awe roads, construction of the 2.1 kilometre Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue, establishment of a Federal University, and construction of a Federal Secretariat Complex in Lafia as some of the remarkable projects executed in Nasarawa State by the President.
Speaking earlier, the spokesman of the ethnic groups, Mr. Nuhu Maigini, said Mr. Maku possessed the requisite experience to provide quality leadership that would develop Nasarawa State.
He described the former Information Minister as the best among all the governorship candidates and said Nasarawa State would witness peace, unity and prosperity under the leadership of Mr. Maku when elected.
Some of the ethnic groups at the meeting included Gwandara, Koro, Gbagyi, Bassa, Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo, Jaba, Ninzom, Alago, Eggon, Migili, and Afo.
ZAKARI EDEGO
Director Publicity
Maku Campaign Organisation
