I’ll contest for Kano governorship in 2015 - deputy minority leader

Category: Inside politics Published on Monday, 11 February 2013 06:00 Written by Turaki A. Hassan

Deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives Rep. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila has declared his intention to contest the Kano State governorship seat in 2015 on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).

Kawu who represents Sumaila/Takai Federal constituency made the declaration yesterday in Kano at the residence of former Kano governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Speaking before a mammoth crowd of supporters, Sumaila promised to lead a government that will listen to the people and restore the lost economic fortunes of the ancient city.

The lawmaker said that he will establish a ‘Shura’ committee that will comprise of people from all facets of life that will be responsible for advising government on policies and programmes.

“I am here to seek for your support as our father and leader of our great party and declare my intention to contest for the governorship of our beloved state come 2015. We have prayed, fasted, consulted widely and came to the decision that we should come out and declare today under your leadership. I promise that unlike others who think that they know it all, I will be a listening leader because I don’t claim to know everything,” he said.

The campaign director, Alhaji Zubairu Abdullahi Danbatta on his part said the people of Kano “are under bondage” in the hands of the PDP led government and are yearning for change adding that “in Kawu they’ll see that change”.

Responding, Shekarau described the ambition of Kawu as a welcome development and said that the ANPP is now at the peak of its popularity in Kano because the present government has failed them. “It is a clear indication that the ANPP will reclaim Kano in 2015,” he said.

On last week’s merger of four major opposition political parties in the country, the former presidential candidate of the ANPP said there is no going back.

He further described as false reports in some national dailies that the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) will be announced this week explaining that the leadership will only emerge after all the merging political parties have held national conventions to ratify the merger.