The former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido has expressed his support for the presidential aspiration of the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in 2023.
The ex-governor gave his support during a courtesy visit from a large delegation of the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, from Sokoto. It was gathered that the visit is part of the ongoing consultation by Tambuwal with major stakeholders in preparation for a formal declaration about his presidential ambition.
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Lamido, while speaking at his Bamaina residence in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, advised the older generation of politicians to give way to the younger generations, who have fresh ideas.
He said the country was currently in a state that requires a leader with ideas, dynamism and creativity as well youthful energy and above all, competence.
The former governor further stated that he believed Tambuwal possess all the qualities, to lead Nigeria, in addition to his education, impeccable character and clear-headedness, saying, he has been a former Speaker of the country and a serving governor with vast political experience.
He insisted the time for Nigeria’s political leaders to make personal sacrifices for the survival of democracy was now, ”People like us who are in our 70s have been called analogue and therefore, phased out, we accept with grace that we are old.
“We must give Nigeria the kind of leaders it deserves, not based on ethnic background, religion or zone, but based on his capacity, competence and we want a Nigerian leader and president, not the president of either the north or south, so to me, zoning doesn’t have meaning any more.”
According to him, zoning should not be the issue in Nigeria’s political terrains, asking, “Those clamouring for zoning? Who are they giving orders, who are they commanding? I believe there has to be a common understanding, we should come together and mutually agree on the issue about the country.”
Tambuwal said Nigeria was currently at crossroads, which requires a leader with a strong vision; a leader that is capable of delivering to all sides of the political divides.
He said, “We are convinced that Nigeria deserves leaders that can unite it. We are aware and very concerned about the current situation of the Nigerian state as it is today, where our unity has been bastardized, and the country is almost, one could say, on the brink. Therefore, all patriotic leaders across party lines are concerned.
“Perhaps only people who are happy with Nigeria today are those who are benefitting from the confusion that is happening at the centre, but the vast majority of our leaders and statesmen are very worried that Nigeria is drifting and drifting very fast.
“Therefore, there is the need for us to come together, first, as a party to unite ourselves and present a candidate for the office of the president. Someone that is competent and will be, by the grace of God, a president of Nigeria and for Nigerians and not a sectional president — not a president from a particular zone.
“Nigeria needs a president that will provide leadership that people will be comfortable with, a president that understands the dynamics of the Nigeria state as at today and all that is at play.”
Tambuwal was accompanied on the visit by one of his predecessors and a former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa; former National Chairman and Board of Trustees of the PDP, Dr Haliru Mohammed Bello; former deputy governor of Sokoto and former Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari; and Zamfara State deputy governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau.
Others on the entourage included a former Minister of Power, Alhaji Suleiman Bello as well as the 2019 governorship candidate of the party in Kenbi state, Gen.Bello Sarkin Yaki.
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