Bauchi south senatorial by-election: I spent less than N5m to win APC ticket ― Gumau

CANDIDATE of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Bauchi south senatorial by-election, Lawal Yayaha Gumau has declared that he spent less than N5 million to win the party primaries held last month just as he assured that if elected as the Senator, he will positively impact on the lives of the electorates in the area.

The APC candidate who is the present member of the House of Representatives representing Toro Federal Constituency stated while addressing Journalists at the NUJ Press Center on Tuesday that he is in the national Assembly to fight injustice and provide good representation to the people.

He further opined that he does not believe in the politics of money but rather politics of positive impartation on the lives of the electorates pointing out that he has been winning election since 2003 without buying the conscience of the electorates but rather his integrity and honesty have worked for him.

Yahaya Gumau added that the era of money politics is over in Bauchi state because according to him, “some of those who used money before and during the party primaries lost the contest while I who did not induce anyone with money emerged as the candidate because am a grassroots politician who has impacted well in the lives of my people over the years.”

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On why he is contesting for Senate in a by-election knowing fully well that if eventually elected he will have less than 3 months before campaign for 2019 commences, the candidate explained that in politics no time is too short to perform creditably well in an elected position assuring that he will do his best to do justice to all the electorates in the seven LGAs that make up the Bauchi south senatorial district.

While reacting to the petition and show of grievances by some of the aspirants who lost the contest, Yahaya Gumau declared that “I have been ordained to become the candidate of the APC. The contest was free and fair and I was convinced that no matter what system of primaries was used, I was ready for it because I had campaigned well and had the support of the delegates without inducing them with any money.”

Yahaya Gumau who had represented Toro in the Bauchi State House of Assembly before his election to the National Assembly declared that “my ambition is to become the President of this country. I have all the qualities to lead the country in the nearest future. In sha Allah, in 2023 I will aspire for the topmost elective office in the country.”

He then commended Bauchi state Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar for what he described as ‘neutrality’ before and during the run-up to the primaries explaining that the Governor really played politics of maturity by not showing preference for any of the twelve aspirants.

Yahaya Gumau finally expressed optimism that he and his party the APC will emerge winner of the by-election on Saturday adding however that, “if at the end we lose the contest, we will support whoever wins in order to move the area forward positively.”