The Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for next year’s general election, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Nasko, has assured that he would not be intimidated by the Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello-led administration. He disclosed that he was determined to liberate Nigerlites from the hardship inflicted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the past three years.
Addressing PDP supporters in continuation of his campaign for the 2019 governorship election at the Suleja township stadium, Nasko declared that no amount of intimidation could stop him answering the clarion call to rescuing Niger State from the APC maladministration.
He told supporters, including defectors from other political parties that, “The APC government had done everything to intimidate me and discourage me from running for the governorship seat in the 2019 election. But I told them that I cannot be intimidated.
“We were arrested, detained and prosecuted by the APC government but we refused to be intimidated. We only fear God, not humans and we are sure that we will take over government because they have failed to provide expected dividends of democracy to Nigerlites”.
Meanwhile, the PDP guber candidate has pledged to pay the new minimum wage agreed under the tripartite arrangement by the federal government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the TUC while pensioners will receive their gratuities and other entitlements as at and when due.
On the social security scheme, Nasko said that if voted for in 2019, his administration would work out a policy that would provide certain amount of money monthly as stipends to unemployed youths in Niger state, including graduates.
Also at the rally, the former Governor of Niger Dtate, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, chastised the Governor Sani Bello-led government “for not doing enough for the development of the state in the last three and half years of governance.
“It is regrettable and very unfortunate that the APC government has wasted the opportunity given to them by Nigerians who were being deceived by claims of change from bad government; but ended up changing for the worst”.
While encouraging the electorate to resist being monetarily induced to sell their Voters’ Card, Aliyu said, “Get your PVCs ready and come out enmasse to vote for Umar Nasko and other PDP candidates at local, state and national level in the 2019 general elections”.
Niger State PDP Chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji, later presented the party’s flags to the Senatorial candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Ishyaku SAN; three House of Representatives aspirants and nine state House of Assembly candidates.