Kaduna: Over 1,000 Groups Pledge Support For Ashiru Ahead Of Governorship Polls
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Over 1,000 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and Community Bases Organisation (CBOs), operating in Kaduna state on Friday paid a solidarity visit to the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Isa Ashiru.
This is just as the Presidential candidate of the PDP in last Saturday’s presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has hailed the party and the people of Kadun for producing the highest numbers of votes (649,612 votes) in the entire northern States.
Atiku lost in his bid to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari in last Saturday’s polls, which has been adjudged as controversial.
Speaking during the occasion thronged by leaders of the groups at Arewa House Kaduna, the Director of NGOs, Kaduna State 2019 PDP Campaign Organisation, Dr. Abdulraman Usman, said that the gathering was at the instance of the NGOs.
He said; “This gathering is the initiative of the NGOs. Their leaders said that they want to come and show their solidarity to Isa Ashiru and to affirm to him of their total support ahead of the gubernatorial polls coming up on the 9th of March, 2019.”
Some of the leaders of the groups who spoke said that they did their best in voters’ mobilisation and that they were certain that the PDP won the election in Kaduna state, but that the votes were rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some of the groups blamed what they said was mismanagement of funds appropriated for the elections by some party officials and outright compromised by uncommitted party agents at the polling units also contributed to the defeat of the PDP.
Responding, Hon Ashiru said he was truly surprised when he heard that the groups have arranged the meeting in solidarity with him and the PDP.
He said; “I stand here to bear witness that you all did campaign rigorously for the PDP and also risked your safety and comfort during the last elections. All these you did without a kobo. Only for the drive for a better Nigeria and Kaduna State. I am very grateful to you all.
“I am happy that you have all said your minds and some of the people you blamed have heard you. We have noticed our flaws and by the grace of God, we shall correct it.
“I want to please, beg you to keep this positive spirit in mind. We shall be in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House come 9th March, 2019.
“I cannot go without passing to you the message of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, our Presidential candidate who will soon reclaim his stolen mandate. He said that I must, on his behalf thank the PDP in Kaduna state for standing out so strong to make a bold statement that Kaduna state is for the PDP.
“He said that I should tell you that he is very proud of you and that he sincerely appreciates your love and sacrifice for the party. He told me that he will create time and personally come to Kaduna to show you his gratitude.”
