Share Kaduna State chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro, in this interview with a group of journalists in Kaduna speaks on the ongoing merger processes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and why the emerging party is showing special interest in Southern Kaduna. Excerpts: Recently General Muhammadu Buhari led opposition parties to the southern part of Kaduna State, what are you people trying to achieve there? Our visit to the southern part is for victory, we have sensed that the people of the area are clamouring for change and we went there to give them the platform for change. You know the votes of the Southern Kaduna people come en bloc. In the past we tried to secure that bloc votes we couldn’t, but now they have come to us that they are ready to align with us in order to chase away the PDP government in Kaduna State. As far as I am concerned, we won elections in the area in 2011 but something went wrong. In some areas elections were not held because they ganged up to ensure that their son and brother became the governor. We all know that it was during that time we witnessed crisis in the state. It was a known fact that many lives were lost during the crisis of 2011. This was what led to our failure in the elections, because the party in power used religion, tribe and other things to bring disunity among the people so as to win elections. It was a known fact that in Kaduna, certain parties dont win election until they used religion and ethnicity to create distrust among the people for their own political gain, particularly in southern part of the state. The interesting thing is that after the incidence they kept on contacting us even before late Yakowa died that they are tired of the way things are happenings in the state. Luckily, the issue of merger came up and we continued contacting each other where they assured us that they are ready to leave that party they are known to be supporting. According to them, despite the fact that they always give their 100 percent support to the PDP, there is nothing to show in the area with regards to dividends of democracy. There was no peace in the area, no peace with their neighbours in the area. That part of the state where Muslims and Christians are known to be living together are no longer together, where the Hausa Fulani and Kadara are; they are no longer there again. These are all strange to them because in the past they lived in peace and harmony with one another. If we have unity and collaboration just as we are witnessing now in the new proposed political party, All Progressives Congress, I am sure victory will be ours, God willing. This is what we saw in Southern Kaduna and we told General Buhari that we have seen victory in Southern Kaduna. We know that we have been winning elections it was just that they are rigged in the area with the support of the people. But now that they agreed to work with us we decided to accept them since all we want is victory. Our aim is to save the entire people of Kaduna State to also have free and fair elections, so as to have a governor that will be just to all the people of the state irrespective of their religion or cultural background. The system of government that will be run by us is that of the people, one that the government will protect public funds not the type of government being witnessed today, where corruption has become the order of the day. So God willing by 2015 victory is going to be ours. You said some people are behind the division in the state, who do you think is responsible for that? It is the ruling party, any place they sense danger they move to the place just to create misunderstanding among the inhabitants living in those areas. But now experience has taught the people lesson and they are beginning to understand the trick. How will you assess the PDP government in Kaduna state? I don’t even know how to describe it, if you and I agree that the state governor is a good man, what about his political party? Would they allow him to be good to the people? This is what we are saying, a political party with a very dangerous written manifesto if a good man joins them will they allow him to be good or do a good job? This is why it is not good for a good person to join a bad party but if a bad person joins a good party, he will be scolded if he is straying and be put on the right way. I will advice you not to even ask me or any CPC member about the state governor, just ask any PDP member directly about the state government he will explain better than me since he is part of it and knows what is happening today. Just listen around there are many members of the party now that are willing to denounce their membership. There is the need for people to leave other political parties to join APC due to the situation the country has found itself, particularly, with regards to insecurity. Today no place is safe in this country. Not even in your community, not in your state not in your home and finally not even in the country as a general. We just have to join hand to kill the mad dog. Nigerians are worried that by the time the new party become a reality, the sharing of party positions and candidates for elective positions will tear the party apart especially at state levels, how will you react to this? This is a speculation from people, I am not saying it is not an issue but it is not going to be an issue to us. As chairman it is not my intention to remain in the position till eternity. I want my party to win and form the government and in bid, I can forfeit anything, my concern is my people. I spent two years as the state chairman of CPC. It is a known fact that in Kaduna State we won elections from that of the president up to councillorship levels. We were rigged but we still won some seats. We won two Senatorial seats but we were left with one. We won House of Representatives seats but one of the seats was robbed from us. We saw how during a by-election for one of the seats, security agents were used to snatch ballot boxes. We also saw how government officials participated in rigging that election. At the end of all these we were left with seven House of Representatives members. At the state level everybody heard when it was announced that we got 23 members of the State House of Assembly but before the daybreak they know what they did at the end we were left with only 12 members. Among the 12 seats one member died. So they used all means to take the seat away from us. During the local government elections we gathered that all over Nigeria the ruling party resolved that no opposition party should be allowed to win a single seat. But in Kaduna State we broke that plan as we won election in the centre of the state. We also have about 40 councillors. This is enough for me to be proud of. My intention is not to be a party leader without achieving anything. But I am happy to say that with this little success we recorded I have achieved a lot as chairman. people say your members at both the State and National Assemblies are far away from them. Don’t you think may affect the chances of your party come 2015? This is democracy, when you do the right thing you know and if you do badly you know. We are trying to do our best to put them on the right track. We will leave them with the people. Even if I am not the chairman they must still come back to face the people. We know there are those who are doing the right things and those that are not. But that is left for people to decide on the day when these same people will come back to seek for their support. How do you see the 2015 elections? With this merger of opposition parties by the grace of God the opposition will win the election at the federal, state and local levels. God willing by the time we form our government that will be the beginning of peace in the country. It will be the beginning of peaceful coexistence in the country.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 02:59:45 +0000
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