Dr.Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano State governor, has been endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Committee in Kano state to contest the 2015 presidential primary election on the platform of the party.
The committee based the endorsement on the governor’s achievements in public service and politics.
This was contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by Ambassador Kabiru Rabi’u and Comrade Saleh Jili, Communiqué chairman and Secretary respectively.
The APC elders held that going by the credible performance of Kwankwaso in the service to the country, the time is ripe for him to be given the opportunity to oversee the affairs of Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, “the present regrettable and avoidable situation in which Nigeria is today is what made the state All Progressives Congress Elders Committee to meet and discuss the current leadership situation of the country. It is very clear that the present incompetent leadership of the country cannot get us out of the present serious problem.”
“It further stated that in view of the above, the country needs a better and more dynamic leader. That leader must have the following qualities: honesty, commitment, vision, strong character, experience, ability to communicate, courage and confidence, integrity, transparency and more importantly, a team player.”
Ambassador Rabiu said that the “APC Elders Committee considers it necessary to invite the Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Alhaji Kwankwaso to contest the presidential election come 2015 because he possesses most of the qualities mentioned above.”
“Gov. Kwankwaso, a Water engineer and Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers, apart from making a mark in politics was a reputable Civil Servant who has served Kano state and Nigeria diligently in his area of specialization as a Principal Engineer before his entry into politics.
“In politics, Kwankwaso was elected member of House of Representatives, representing Madobi Federal Constituency. He was subsequently elected as Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives. He was also elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Conference which fashioned out the constitution that ushered in the Fourth Republic.
“In the beginning of the Fourth Republic, he contested and won the governorship ticket of Kano state, a position he held between 1999 and 2003. His first tenure ended with remarkable developments in the state. He was later appointed as Defense Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. After three years tenure he resigned to contest the gubernatorial election in 2007.
“He was later appointed Presidential Special Envoy to Somalia and Dafur. He also served as a Board Member representing North-West at Niger-Delta Development Commission. Regrettably, he resigned his membership of the Board due to lack of transparency in the commission.
“In the year 2011, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso contested the gubernatorial election and won to become the Governor of Kano state for the second time, a position he is holding to date. We appeal to all Nigerians who are interested in the development and growth of the country to come forward and support his candidature. We fervently count on your unflinching support,” the APC elders appealed.