KANO State is poised to regain its status as the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched the presidency later this month.
PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar gave the state this ray of hope on Thursday in Kano while on another stretch of his nationwide electioneering campaign.
While blaming the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the woes, such as dwindling development of education, infrastructural decay and lack of proper healthcare delivery, being suffered by Kano state in recent years, Alhaji Atiku said the APC has failed to manage huge urbanization challenges, that has impacted ‘negatively’ on the development of the state.
According to him, “with the industriousness of Kano people there Is no reason for poverty to threaten the lives and means of seeking livelihood of the people of the state, especially if the government (of APC) has done the needful by way of sound economic policies and planning.”
“It is for this reason that my administration will institute policy changes that will unleash the potentials of Kano State with its large population and acumen.
“My government, he said, “will explore the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy to restore Kano industrial past and make the State the commercial nerve centre of the North.
“Kano, with me as President, will become truly a private sector-driven State. Small scale businesses and local as well as indigenous industries will be supported. We will also endeavor to attract foreign investments to complement and sustain local efforts at industrialization,” he promised.
He also added that premium attention will be given to the development of agriculture, upon which “Kano’s economy hugely relies,” reform the tsangaya education system, rehabilitate dilapidated roads, create an environment that will provide employment and fulfillment to youth and women; and explore avenues of giving monarchs constitutional roles.
He expressed appreciation to the people of Kano for braving the difficulties brought by Naira redesign policy and the acute shortage of fuel to attend his party’s rally.
He implored them to remain steadfast, patient and law abiding in the face of these challenges. “I thank you for coming despite the difficulties, I remain in your debt and will not forget you,” he reiterated.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign organization, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, urged the people of Kano state and Nigerians to be wary of the plot being hatched by the APC to use hoarded money to influence the outcome of the elections.
“If they offer you money, collect it and vote wisely for the PDP,” he urged voters, assuring them that of all the presidential candidates lined up for the presidential election, none is as roundly qualified as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
