One of the frontline presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rt. (Hon) Aminu Tambuwal Governor of Sokoto State has counseled the Lagos delegates ahead of the party’s primaries to root for a well rounded leader and not experiments.
Governor Tambuwal who appraised the fact that he has cut across the three arms of government with laudable attainments on display, traced the cause of the myriads of problems confronting the nation to the disconnect that exist between the leader and the followers.
He made the assertion at a townhall parley with delegates in Lagos state on Wednesday.
“I urge you to produce via the primaries a party flag bearer who can win the election for the party and demography is a factor.
“There are so many variables that work in tandem for winning elections; age,capacity, experience, competence and character.
“ I believe with every sense of decency I check all of these therefore delegates of Lagos centre of excellence I seek for your votes.
“I am not going to be a dictator, I would be that democratic president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that will be consultative, that will work with the different perspectives because at a point in my career, I have been a leader of party at state level as the Legal Adviser and also a permanent member of the party’s BoT.
“Having served at various capacities I understand the issues about the Judiciary, legislature and the executive.I believe this put me in a better stead as someone that can provide leadership that meets the yearning of the people. don’t go for experiments.“ Tambuwal said.
He further appreciated the Nigerian youths concern while pledging that will be one of the cardinals of his government.
“The memories of EndSars crisis are still with us, therefore the sorosoke youths are looking for somebody who can lead them.
“Not someone who has transited their level therefore disconnected from them, they need someone, not someone too young and lacks the experience, they need someone who is a bridge in between the old and the young and I believe that among the fifteen aspirants in PDP the frontline aspirants, I am that bridge.
“I served in the House of Representatives for 12 years uninterrupted and therefore understand the issues of this country.
“ I have related with representatives from 360 perspectives of this country at different times, one as a member, a minority leader and at a point as Deputy Chief Whip and ultimately the Speaker.
“Therefore I can withstand the issues of this country as Complex and dynamic as they are. They require dexterity, capacity, competence and character.
“All these will be harnessed for the development of this country, we are here, we can and we must make Nigeria work again for all of us.
“I know you people are passionate, don’t mortgage the future of this country and our children.
“Look at all of us, look at our records and know what to do because the task ahead is the task of rebuilding Nigeria, and it requires someone up there at the centre who can midwife that process.
“When you are looking for a midwife you naturally go for a person, who has competence in the profession and experience, I have delivered as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal government of Nigeria, I have delivered good governance in Sokoto, state, we are not owing any worker salaries, or pensioners, we are paying gratuity. If you ask Deji Doherty he will tell you what he saw in Sokoto, if you asked my contemporaries on the other side of the divide about my Pan-Nigerianess on their honour they will affirm that I am a Pan- Nigerian.
“It has come to that point when we must eschew sentiments. I remember when President Obasanjo established NDDC, he was not from Niger Delta, when President Umar Musa Yar’adua again identified the problem of the Niger Delta in order to consolidate the NDDC he established the Ministry of Niger Delta, so it is not about where you are from but it is about your country, your competence, your capacity and whether the people can trust you with power.
“ When trusting a man with power you better check him out because power in the wrong hands can destroy anything and leadership is what we lacked in Nigeria today, that is why the country is going the wrong route.
“Let the party have a criteria of the type of leader that you want to bequeath to your children, of the type of Leader you want to be seeing on the international scene as representing this great country, a leader that can rub shoulders with the rest leaders of the world without complex.”
He also advised Lagos PDP to be united ahead of the 2023 general elections in order to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, adding that Lagos is crucial to the development and progress of the country.
” This is the centre of excellence, you must go for excellence, check us all and be guided by conscience to cast your votes come May 28,29th.
“You have to work as united family in Lagos. The state is important not to be left in the hands of the APC in 2023 and even at the centre. With what I am seeing here, it shows the PDP is alive in Lagos state”, said Tambuwal.