Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, on Thursday declared his intention to contest the Kaduna State governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said this in Kaduna when he visited the party’s office.
“I came along with my colleagues to formally inform the state branch of the APC of my intension to contest for the governorship of Kaduna State.
”We think that it is a necessary first step to inform the party officially that this is our intention before making any formal declaration,” he said.
El-Rufai also congratulated the party leadership for its efforts in unifying the various factions and groups that constituted the APC.
He said the chairman of the party and his team did a great job in reconciling all the warring factions “and we think it is important to encourage and ask them to do more”.
”As part of the reconciliation process, I have also offered to, if I am needed, help and forge reconciliation and unite the party. I will be happy to be part of any such initiative,” he said.
According to him,”we came to present the party with some vehicles because the party has nothing or little in terms of operational materials.
“As you can see, the party’s office is not yet furnished; we are going to work with other stakeholders to make sure that the party’s office is furnished.”
He said there was the need for its leadership to go round the state, to campaign and enlighten the electorate to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards’ and participate in the Continuous Voter Registration.
“We thought that the party needed vehicles because since their (party leadership) elections, they have been using their personal vehicles. That is why we gave them some vehicles as a first step and we hope to do more.
“We hope other aspirants will do even more because among the aspirants, I am about the poorest,” he said.
He said he decided to run for the office after a long period of consultation and reflection “because I am really angry at the state of Kaduna State.
“I think that my state has gone backward compared to our neighbouring states.
“It is impunity of the highest order and it has made me very angry and many others and that is why we came together and try to run for this office.”
