AS the gubernatorial primary elections of the political parties draw closer, Gombe State chapter of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Aspirants for Peace and Unity Forum comprising of two representatives of each of the nine gubernatorial aspirants has signed a memorandum of agreement to rally round anyone of the aspirants who emerges as the party’s candidate.
The Forum in a press statement signed and issued to Journalists on Sunday by the Secretary, Yusuf Musa Danbayo explained that the aim of the forum is to foster and promote unity and understanding amongst all the aspirants because according to it “unity is cardinal and of paramount importance for the victory of our party in the upcoming gubernatorial general election in 2019”.
The Forum further stated that the aim of unifying and promoting understanding amongst the aspirants has been achieved and is currently trying to maintain it thereby lending credence to the fact that the memorandum of understanding that has been signed by the aspirants is to support anyone amongst them that emerges as the party’s flagbearer.
The statement further contained that “An enabling and level playing ground has been laid for the aspirants in the upcoming primary election. The party leader, Sen. (Dr.) Danjuma Goje has made it categorically and unequivocally clear that he has no preferred or favored candidate; this message we, as a forum also extended to the state, local government and ward executives during the just concluded unity rally/tour around the eleven (11) local government areas in the state”.
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It explained that consequent upon the agreement, the Forum embarked on a unity rally/tour round the local government areas which commenced on the 19th of September and was rounded up on the 22nd day of the month with Gombe Local Government area to show and display the level of unity and understanding amongst the aspirants.
It stated further that “Notwithstanding the calculated act and disposition of one of the aspirants geared towards thwarting our efforts of having a united and formidable front, a success the rally/tour was. His act has in no way affected the unity stride attained; the said candidate has just succeeded in isolating himself”.
“More so, his act and disposition of deliberately refusing to participate in the unity rally has shown that he is not willing to support others and that he is already reneging from the memorandum of understanding signed by the aspirants to support whoever emerges as the flagbearer. On this note, we state categorically that if he wins the primaries, we won’t support him, for we won’t give him that which he is not willing to give to others”.
The Forum concluded that “Glory be to God, the most Beneficent and the Most Merciful, a success the rally was. This success won’t have been achieved without the joint efforts of certain individuals. Worthy of note and mention is our party leader, Sen. (Dr) Danjuma Goje, the state, Local Government and ward executives. Numerous are the individuals that made it a success, however time and space won’t permit the mentioning of the names of each and every one; we immensely and sincerely thank you all”.
“There are nine aspirants for the gubernatorial position, however the success achieved thus far won’t have been possible without the selfless efforts of eight(8) of the aspirants and their supporters; the aspirants in no order of significance are as follows, Sen. Barr. Idris Umar Abdullahi, Hon. Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki, Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki Jallo Waziri, (Dr). Umar Kwairanga, Hon. Aliyu Haidar Abubakar, Alh. Farouk Umar Bamusa, Alh. Abubakar Habu Mu’azu and Alh. Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya”.
The Forum then stated that “Unity is our watch word; unity is key and cardinal to our party’s success come 2019”.
