Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has told Senate President and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmad Lawan, that he will know where the state swings at the appropriate time.
Ganduje, who described Kano as a swing state in Nigeria’s politics, said he would fully cooperate with Lawan on his efforts to secure the presidential ticket of the APC.
The governor said this when he received Lawan and his entourage at the Kano Government House on their tour to the state to interact with APC delegates and other stakeholders in preparation for the forthcoming APC primary election.
He said: “So Your Excellency we assure you of our full cooperation. Kano State is a swing state in the presidential primaries, even in the presidential election and Kano State will swing when it is time to swing.”
Describing Kano’s influence on population strength, Ganduje said: “Kano has the largest number of delegates in the country. There is no gainsaying about that. This follows from the fact that we have the largest population in the country.
“We have 44 Local Governments, 484 wards. All our local government council chairmen are elected local government chairmen. Therefore, they are part of the statutory delegates in Kano state and in Nigeria.
“We have over 4,000 elected councillors in Kano state. And most of our 400 legislators especially House of Representatives, Senators, former Senators, principal officers of the state Assembly and National Assembly, Your Excellency, both of them, we are together and we are intact.”
The governor further extolled leadership qualities of the Senate President whom he commended for fostering stability in the National Assembly and enabling cordial relationship with the executive arm of hover.
“Your Excellency, I want to inform you that we are fully aware of your capacity. We are fully aware, the way you handle the National Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which you are the chairman.
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“Today there is peace, cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature and we believe if you become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we can expect peace and stability between the Legislature and the Executive, with the Institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the sub-national government in the states, with the Local Governments,” Ganduje added.
Speaking, Lawan, who was in Kano to interact with party delegates, said he hopes that all the Kano APC delegates would swing in his favour.
The presidential aspirant said: “I’m here to see and interact with all the 500 delegates from Kano state and I cannot agree more with my leader when he said this is the largest sub-national democracy in Nigeria. I imagine that it could also be the largest sub-national democracy in Africa.
“When His Excellency, our governor was rounding up his speech, he said Kano is a swing state and it can determine not only the Primaries, with 500 delegates, but also the general elections. Your Excellency, it will swing to my side by the Grace of God.
“I want all the 500 delegates. In fact, I need all the 500 delegates, Your Excellency. If I can’t have the 500, please let me have at least 400.
“My brothers and sisters, distinguished delegates, I promise you that, when eventually we discuss and find common ground with His Excellency and vote for me, you will for ever be pleased with the way and manner I will lead this country because it is not possible for anyone to lead the country like Nigeria without the presence and contributions of people like Governor Abdullahi Ganduje,” the Senate President stated.
Lawan further applauded Governor Ganduje for providing giant infrastructure developments in Kano State, saying the governor deserves further commendation for securing the state from security challenges bedevilling other neighbouring states.
He, therefore, expressed confidence that the APC would retain its control and influence in the political climate of Kano State by winning all electoral positions in the state.
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