Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state and a PDP presidential hopeful has advised the party’s national delegates in Lagos state not to mortgage their children’s futures by voting for the wrong candidate.
He also urged delegates to make sure they vote for the right presidential candidate in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries, to safeguard the country’s future.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) recalls that the main opposition party had set its presidential primaries for May 28 and 29, to choose its standard-bearer for the 2023 presidential elections.
Mr. Tambuwal, accompanied by some PDP chiefs, made the remark when he met national delegates from the Lagos chapter of the PDP on Wednesday night in Ikeja.
His visit came a day after another presidential hopeful and former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, admonished delegates against “money bag” politicians.
The governor, who advised the delegates to critically evaluate the trajectory of the candidates in the election of the party’s presidential standard-bearer, said that they should bet on the most competent, professional and experienced.
“Do not mortgage the future of your children, do not mortgage the future of this country.
“This is the Center of Excellence, you must go for excellence. Check everything and be guided by conscience when casting your vote on May 28 and 29.
“Review our records as applicants and know what to do. The task ahead is the task of rebuilding Nigeria and it requires someone at the center who can be a midwife to that process. I am pan-Nigerian,” she said.
The governor said he had delivered as a former speaker of the House of Representatives and governor of Sokoto state, not owing workers’ salaries, pensions and tips, while delivering massive infrastructure with scant resources.
Tambuwal added: “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about your person, character, competence, ability and whether people can trust you with power.
“Power in the wrong hand can destroy everything.
“Therefore, you must put on your thinking caps and think wisely as we implement measures to nominate our party’s standard-bearer who can, together and collectively with all of us and other leaders of our party, win the election for the PDP.”
Mr. Tambuwal listed the variables and factors for winning an election to include age, ability, experience, competence and character, adding that he had overcome all the variables.
The governor promised not to be a dictator but to exercise a fully democratic government.
He urged the delegates to have the criteria of the type of leader they wanted to give their children and the one they want to be seen on the international stage.
Tambuwal, who denounced the level of insecurity, economic hardship and corruption, said his first priority if elected would be to forge greater unity in the country and give hope to the hopeless.
He warned against sentiment in choosing the party’s standard-bearer.
“The job is very demanding, it requires experience because we can’t afford to risk experimenting with leadership in this country again.
“Nigeria faces challenges and we must do everything humanly possible together to overcome the challenges and build it up.
“We must be very clear in our vision and understanding of the type of leader that Nigeria requires at this time,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria needs a leader with experience in democratic, legislative, executive government and someone with knowledge of the constitution and the rule of law.
Noting that he was still a bridge between the young and the old, Mr. Tambuwal added that he could relate very well to the young people as he understood the country’s problems.
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“I understand the problems of this country, having served 12 years in the House of Representatives and associated with representatives from virtually 360 federal constituencies in this country at different times as a member, minority leader, deputy chief and, in ultimately, as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I have been close to most of the representatives of various tribes in this country.
“I understand that the problems of this country are as complex as they are. They (issues) require skill, ability, competence and character. We can and must make Nigeria work. Nigeria will go back to work for all of us,” she said.
However, Tambuwal called for unity and understanding among PDP members in Lagos state to start the process of ruling the state in 2023.
In his response, Lagos State PDP Chairman Philips Aivijo said the state chapter would support Mr. Tambuwal’s aspiration.
NAN reports that the party’s state and local government executives, among other PPD leaders, also attended the event.