KEBBI governor’s aide has explained why Governor Nasir Idris would beat the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in the 2027 governorship election.
Alhaji Abdullahi Zuru, Special Adviser to Kebbi Governor on Communication and Strategy, stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
He said that Gov. Nasir Idris would emerge victorious over the ADC governorship candidate, in view of the track record the governor.
Speaking on the records of the two politicians, the governor’s aide argued that the electorate would choose Gov. Idris based on his integrity and proven track record.
He explained that since the commencement of the governorship and State House of Assembly electioneering campaigns last week, the political battle had shifted to the grassroots, where the electorate would ultimately determine their preferred candidates.
The special adviser said political campaigns for elective positions were being conducted by political gladiators in different ways and with varying intentions, ranging from the pursuit of personal interests to the promotion of public interests.
“However, the public response to the approach of the 2027 electioneering campaigns may witness a departure from previous years, in view of the apparent increasing awareness among Nigerians of their right to decide their fate in democratic governance.
“It is common knowledge in the public domain that some ambitious and desperate politicians, believed to have accumulated questionable wealth and properties, are coming to terms with the reality that deception under any guise will never change the people’s mindset in the present democratic dispensation.
“On the other hand, candidates with a track record of integrity and verifiable records of contributions to community-impacting developmental projects and self-reliance opportunities may have to slug it out with other gladiators,” he noted.
Comparing Gov. Idris with the ADC governorship candidate, Malami, Zuru said their respective records, both nationally and internationally, would count and influence their prospects during the election.
He said: “Each of the two candidates has a record believed to have been nationally and internationally recognised and acknowledged, which may make or mar their chances of victory at the polls.
“Gov. Idris, the APC gubernatorial candidate, has excelled in his field of human endeavour as a professionally trained teacher.
“His succession from the chairmanship of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) at the local and state levels to the position of National President of the union and eventually Deputy National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is a testament to his experience.
“The internationally recognised unionist has also been identified among the best-performing state governors by the national leadership of the APC.
“He is known for his philanthropic gestures and humanitarian services to communities long before venturing into partisan politics,” he said.
According to him, these experiences have contributed to the achievements recorded in infrastructure and socio-economic development, which are believed to be unprecedented in the history of the state he governs.
Zuru revealed that Gov. Idris leadership qualities had demonstrated his capacity and determination to change the narrative of the state’s development.
He added that throughout Malami’s eight-year tenure as Minister of Justice, the former minister allegedly made no verifiable impact on the lives of people in his community or the state, either personally or through any government agency.
Zuru noted that, based on what he described as an objective and comparative analysis of the track records of integrity, selflessness and patriotism of Gov. Idris and former Minister, Malami, in addition to their individual antecedents, Malami was no match for the governor in the 2027 election.
“It should be understood that the people of Kebbi are wiser and know the difference between a leader who built his name through service to humanity and a man whose name is subjected to different allegations,” he said.
He added that the ADC remained a relatively unfamiliar political platform in Kebbi and argued that its candidate did not pose a threat to the APC governorship candidate.
Zuru concluded that, in 2027, the people of Kebbi would choose continuity, integrity and proven capacity. (NAN)
