How Dikko Radda ‘overshadowed’ other aspirants at APC convention

As the officials and members All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered in Abuja Saturday to elect new set of leaders, a little drama played out as President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed Dr. Dikko Radda from Katsina State.

Dr. Dikko Radda is the Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). He was appointed by President Buhari in 2016 and was reappointed in 2021.

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Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who is in his second tenure, has not picked a successor yet; but some top party officials in the state claimed Dr Dikko is being groomed for the position.

Other top Katsina politicians aiming to succeed Masari are the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Ahmed Babba Kaita; and Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Ahmed Dangiwa.

However, Dikko’s banners, posters and billboards were placed in strategic places in the Federal Capital Territory and streets leading to the venue of the convention.

Dikko is said to be currently enjoying overwhelming support from especially women and youths.

Speaking on why Dikko has the backing of the youth, Laure Musa, a politician, who is familiar with developments in the state, said what Katsina need is someone energetic and who has listening ears.

Musa said, “Dr Dikko is a candidate to beat and he is the right man to unite us once more. His education programme alone is enough to convince the people of Katsina State that he is the right candidate. Because of this programme many children have gone back to school.”