All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T), Nasir el-Rufai has written to stakeholders and associates in his native Kaduna state, intimating them of his reasons for runnignfor office of governor.
El-Rufai said that the state of Kaduna is currently pathetic and he plans to save it from neglect and underdevelopment.
He wrote: “Our state, Kaduna, is now fragmented across ethnic and religious lines and without federal allocations, the state cannot survive. Our renowned educational institutions are decaying, while unemployment and youth restiveness are visible. Trust in government is low and the essentials needed to stimulate socio-economic development are most lacking. The Kaduna State that was once a point of reference in peaceful coexistence, progress and fairness in the Northern region in particular and Nigeria as a whole is now lagging behind most states created recently.”
He continued by saying the “cohesive fabric of our community may be completely destroyed” if nothing was done urgently.
The erstwhile minster said: “Bearing in mind the need to rescue our beloved state, coupled with deep reflection and wide consultation with stakeholders who cherish the importance of providing good leadership, I have resolved to contest for the office of the governor of Kaduna State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections. We do not underestimate, by any means, the challenges ahead. We also appreciate the enormity of the tasks ahead and the potential land mines that the ruling party will inevitably place on our path.
“We therefore, most humbly, solicit your guidance, support and prayers as we begin the journey to rebuild Kaduna State and put our people on the road to peace and socio-economic prosperity. In due course, my colleagues and I will make every effort to visit and intimate you of the progress we have made so far, unfold our strategies and present our ideas towards making Kaduna State great again. We shall value your thoughts and guidance in these regards”.
el-Rufai concluded by saying: “any observer of the social, political, and economic trends in Nigeria today must be appalled at the level of decay and despair in our society. More alarming is the dangerous path unto which the ruling party has pushed our Nation. It does not require genius to realize that the signs are ominous and the very future of our dear country is far from certain.”
