Says he cannot disappoint Balarabe Musa, other founding fathers of PRP
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A few days to the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, the governorship candidate of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Kaduna State, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, has debunked the rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down for a political party in the State.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, shortly after he returned from campaign tours along his team, Makarfi said he will breast the line in the race because he is sure of victory.
The governorship hopeful added that it will amount to disappointing late Balarabe Musa, Aminu Kano and other founding fathers of PRP if he should step down for any party for the governorship election.
“Some political parties made some remarks that we should step down for them. We not step down for any political party. We want to lead and emancipate the people as Balarabe Musa did in the 70s and 80s.
“This is my first outing as a governorship candidate in Kaduna State. So it will not be proper for me to step down for any political party.
“For the past nine days we have been campaigning across the local government areas in the State. We could see the need for unity among the people irrespective of religious because we love ourselves as Muslims and Christians, but in the last few years we have allowed enemity to divide us.
“So let’s vote leaders based on competence and good character. We pray that the PRP emerge victorious, and carries everybody along.
“We have been doing issues based campaigns. PRP was in government in 1979 and 1980. Balarabe Musa spent 18 months in office. The good record is there. So we cannot run alliance with APC or PDP or any other party.
“In the last 24 years it had been money politics, we need to reverse money politics because those days people supported political parties with money and not political parties spending money to win election.
“We are confident that people across the 23 Local government areas of Kaduna State will support us. So we are confident that PRP can form the next government.
“Campaign of calumny notwithstanding, I came out clean from EFCC investigation after falling apart from governor Nasir El-rufai government. And I got another job at Nigeria Financial and Intelligence Unit.
“Nobody believed that PDP would be removed from power after 16 years in office. Kaduna people did it. So we are calling on the people to vote Balarabe Musa and Aminu Kano’s party, the PRP.
“We are confident that we will win the governorship. And we want to call on the INEC chairman to give the people hope of fair, free and credible elections. And We also call on the good people of Kaduna to come out enmass to vote PRP next Saturday,” Makarfi said.