Nigeria Content Online

A governorship
aspirant of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, Mohammed Adamu
Bello, has said that despite recent defections of some PDP members out
of the party, it would still sweep the polls in the state come April
2011.

Mr Bello, who is a
serving senator, declared his ambition to govern the state yesterday at
the NUJ secretariat, saying the development would instead erase the
impression that the country is gradually drifting towards a one-party
state.

“You see, in the
first place, I don’t really agree that there is a mass defection from
our great party, the PDP. Even if it is happening in some states of the
country, it is good for our democracy; at least people would not say
Nigeria is moving towards a one-party state again. It is even funny
that people are now saying the PDP is losing power, they used to say we
were heading to a one-party state,” he said.

“But we have to
open the democratic space for people to participate, which is the
beauty of democracy. You can see what is happening in Kwara state where
father and son have disagreed over who should be the governor of the
state. But let me remind you that as people are defecting from our
party, several others are pitching tent with us and that is why the PDP
is a great party.”

Party to beat

Mr Bello, who
himself defected from the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP)
said it would take a miracle for any of the opposition parties to dent
the domination of the PDP in the country.

He said he believed
that the people of Kano, who are yearning for development, would have
their interests better served with a governor that belongs to the
mainstream party. He expressed optimism that he would triumph over
other leading governorship aspirants of the party, including Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso and former military governor of Plateau State, Habibu Shuaibu
in the party’s governorship primaries scheduled to hold at the weekend.

Mr Bello promised
to offer selfless leadership if voted to power and enjoined party
delegates to eschew bitterness and work harmoniously to elect a
candidate that is capable of putting an end to the setbacks recorded by
the party since 2003.

“For me, this contest is not a do or die affair, as I believe that
power comes from Allah Who gives it to whomever he wishes. I am
strongly convinced that I am the candidate that can deliver the desired
result. As I look forward to emerging winner at the primaries, let me
intimate the good people of Kano that my administration would be
result-oriented. We shall build on the good legacies left behind by
Kano’s founding fathers,” he said.