Against the widespread allegation of money politics in recent times, the gubernatorial aspirant of the opposition Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD) in Bauchi State, Hajiya Baheejah Mahmood Abdullahi, has warned against the use of money, wrappers and other gratifications and souvenirs in order to get votes from the electorates in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
Baheejah Mahmoud, who is the only female so far in the state aspiring for the exalted seat, gave the warning in Bauchi over the weekend when she hosted hundreds of women groups that came to pledge their support for her aspiration.
While speaking to the groups, she said: “You have to reject money politics, it is against the democratic tenets but if they insist, collect the money and vote for a candidate of your choice, you must understand the antics of some politicians who are bent on using money politics to corrupt the system.”
Baheejah Mahmoud added that “their target is to win the election by hook or crook no matter what it will cost them, as eligible voters, you have to teach them a lesson and show them that money cannot buy your conscience and your right to go for a credible, reliable and competent candidate.”
She added that “ if they win, they will starve you because money politics has been responsible for underdevelopment in all nooks and crannies of our dear state. You should understand that any public officer that bribed his way to the office instead for him to work for the wellbeing of the people, he will be busy looting your treasury in the name of recouping the campaign expenditure and before they realise their tenure has finished and the masses are the one who will suffer the consequences for four good years before another round of election”.
Baheejah Mahmoud further said that the moment money politics and power drunk are removed from our political system the issue of corruption will be made history pointing out that “our political opponents are against the rising status of women candidates, but remember politics is a game of number. Last week, we held a meeting of all female contestants and we have the assurances of President Muhammadu Buhari, his wife, Aisha Buhari that they will support women contestants.”
She added that both the President and his wife assured that “they will give us a level playing ground. So, as women you are the majority of voters you should not take money against a trustworthy and credible candidate it’s your time to use criteria in elimination choose your gender if she wins, she will be fair to both women, men, youths and children.”
In his speech, the State Chairman of ACD, ElFaruk Gado, advised women to join ACD and take the campaign of the party to the doors of every house in Bauchi State.
ElFaruk Gado also said that since a woman aspirant has come out it is now time for women to rise up against their marginalisation in party politics and support one of their own to become the Governor in 2019 for the development of the State.
He further said that the ACD is a party which motto is ‘bye- bye to poverty’ therefore electing all ACD candidates will bring wealth and economic development of all households and urged the Women to always remember women leaders since during the lives of prophets like Queen Balkisu.
He also said that they should remember great women that made history in Nigeria like Queen Daurama of Daura, Queen Amina of Zazzau and think of great women in the world like Queen Elizabeth pointing out that it is now time for Bauchi to join history by producing a first female Governor in the country under the flat form of ACD“
All the speakers at the conference urged the electorates in Bauchi State to give Baheejah a chance to prove her worth as she is experienced, reliable, competence and trustworthy.
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