2019: Kwankwaso defies attempt to stop his presidential declaration

FORMER Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso’s supporters locked down parts of Abuja on Wednesday as he defiled authorities to make a formal declaration to contest for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Kano Senator had been denied the use of Eagle Square, Abuja after paying the required fee and initially securing approval before he was also stopped from using the Old Parade Ground, Area 10 Abuja.

He also announced that effort had been made to stop him from using a private facility, Chida Hotel, which he resisted by telling authorities that, “Chida Hotel is a private property. It’s not your father’s own.”

The former Minister of Defence was, however, able to make use of Chida Hotel grounds where a mammoth crowd of supporters gathered to hear him make a push for the 2019 ticket of the former ruling party.

All major roads leading to the venue were virtually shot down by his supporters as commuters had a hard time navigating their way in the environment.

Speaking to the crowd, he vowed to bring a wide range of positive changes for the benefit of the country if given the opportunity.

He said: “Your resolve to come, I am convinced, was informed by our collective disillusionment, disappointment and the pervasive air of hopelessness in our country today.

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“Your desire to see things change for better is well-informed and inner conviction that together we can midwife positive change is applauded.

“Today I declare that I am going to vie for the office of the President Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“I stand on my honour to offer a paradigm shift in leadership. There is no gainsaying that all is not well with the polity. It is also clear that the same mindset that created and escalated the problems cannot be used in resolving the on-going crises in our nationhood and national development.

“I intend to offer positive change. Change has again become inevitable. To live is to witness changes because change is an inseparable part of living. Come May 2019, the narrative of helplessness, buck-passing, division, poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness must change to turn to a new dawn of confidence in building a one well restructured Nigeria.

“I assure you that while I do not have the prophetic power to predict the future, we certainly have in us the ability to create the future that we want.

On this day, as I stand before you I offer you a value-based leadership anchored on our National Ethics as outlined in Chapter 2 of Section 23 of our Constitution.”

Kwankwaso further said: “We will provide a leadership where everybody is free and equal; where Nigerians see themselves as Nigerians first and as Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Ibibio, Fulani, etc second; where citizens are self-assured and self-assertive; where they are confident and competent; where they want to do what is right no matter whose ox is gored.

“I want to lead a Nigeria where people are educated and exposed beyond the confines of their tribe, religion, linguistic group or place of birth.

“I want to lead a Nigeria where citizens respect their leaders, and leaders lead and forge a team to promote and protect the interest of all Nigerians.

“I want to lead a Nigeria where all are comfortable anywhere and on any positive issue can compete fairly with their peers without favour or discrimination. That is the kind of Nigeria we envision.

“We will abandon the failed relics of the past. We have all it takes to make Nigeria good and relevant for all.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Ugo Chinyere, in his goodwill message at the occasion, said the 40 political parties that make up the coalition are determined to produce a single candidate to slug it out with President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).