2023: Shehu Sani Is A Comedian, An Idle Blogger Not Fit To Govern Kaduna – APC

Nigerian activist and one-time senator, Shehu Sani has been described as a comedian and an idle blogger for wanting to become the next Governor of Kaduna State.

Naija News reports that the Kaduna All Progressive Congress, APC, in a statement issued on Monday said that the state is too big for the former lawmaker to handle.

Recall that Sani on Sunday declared interest in contesting the number one political position in the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member said he’s joining the governorship race in other to clean up the mess of the incumbent administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

Reacting, however, in a statement through its Publicity Secretary, Salisu Tanko Wusono, APC Kaduna State chapter said it was saddening all sorts of characters were dreaming of succeeding the Governor.

The ruling party said it has set a standard of governance in the state and would not allow Sani or any other ‘unfit’ politician to bring setbacks to the state.

Admonishing residents of the state ahead of the 2023 general elections, APC said: “We greet the people of the state and wish them a peaceful and prosperous 2022. In 2015 and again in 2019, the APC gladly accepted the electoral mandate freely given by the people of Kaduna State and we remain grateful for that.

The party said the incumbent government has implemented visible projects across the state since 2015 when it assumed power.

The ruling party further boasts in the statement that it has established itself as the party that has made a positive difference, putting people first and changing Kaduna State for the better.

The statement continued: “The APC has observed that with the next general elections approaching, all sorts of characters are trying to disrespect the people of Kaduna State by treating the contest for the next governorship of the state as if it is a grand comedy. Our party knows that the people of Kaduna State have seen consistent good governance since 2015 and they will not allow nonentities to ruin it for them.”

“The APC has changed the democratic game in Kaduna State, making politics and governance an arena for the serious and the accomplished.

“2023 will further confirm that Kaduna State is not an arena for those who have never run anything, who do not have any understanding of development or any appreciation of governance as a serious undertaking.

“Our party is proud that the government of Malam Nasir El-Rufai has amply justified the confidence that the people have twice shown in him and the APC at the ballot box.

“The government of Malam Nasir El-Rufai has faithfully implemented the APC manifesto. And in so doing has changed Kaduna State for the better, in a way that has never been done before.

“The urban renewal programme has changed the face of Kaduna city and is changing Kafanchan and Zaria. These investments in infrastructure did not just start with the launch of the urban renewal programme in June 2019.

“It is this Nasir El-Rufai APC government that on 27 May 2017 completed the Zaria Water Project that had been abandoned by two PDP governors after Governor Namadi Sambo who initiated it before he was appointed Vice President of Nigeria.

“Phases 1 and II of the Zaria Water Project have since been completed. With Phase III, the project is being extended to supply water to neighbouring local governments, besides Zaria and Sabon-Gari LGAs who were the first beneficiaries.

“Governor El-Rufai’s sense of purpose, clarity of vision and determination to solve problems ensured that he delivered Zaria Water within two years of assuming office. He cleared the mess of incompetence and indifference the PDP had displayed towards this priority project.

According to the statement, Governor El-Rufai has infused a sense of hard work, commitment to results, boldness to confront challenges and transparency.

“Led by Malam El-Rufai, APC government of Kaduna State has attracted $2.8bn of investments into the state. Within less than a year in office, El-Rufai got Olam to break ground for the largest hatchery project in sub-Saharan Africa in April 2016 and the project was commissioned in September 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The steel plant and iron ore mining complex in Gujeni, Kagarko LGA, the Tomato Jos farm and tomato processing plant in Kangimi, the OCP fertilizer plant and the Dangote-Peugeot vehicle assembly plant all testify to the hard work that has earned Kaduna State recognition as the number one state for doing business in Nigeria. These are projects creating jobs and business opportunities for the people of the state.

Speaking on education, the APC government said it has improved on the quality of teachers deployed to various schools in the state and also added to the school infrastructure.

It stressed that Governor El-Rufai has given substance to the idea that the children of the poor also deserve decent education.

“Where the PDP was content to let over 20,000 pupils in one primary school in Rigasa study under tents, the APC government has built new schools and more classrooms for them. Where 16 years of PDP neglect left most schools without desks, chairs, water supply and toilets, the APC has invested resources to reverse this trend. Where the PDP infected the ranks of teachers with many unqualified persons, the APC under El-Rufai is ensuring that only qualified persons can teach.”

“El-Rufai launched the revamp of 255 primary healthcare centres, equipping them with tools to aid safer delivery and reduce infant and maternal mortality. Kaduna State has also launched a contributory health insurance scheme to reduce out of pocket expenses when accessing health care.”

Listing further the achievement of the El-Rufai government, the statement noted that the governor has upgraded general hospitals and secured accreditation for Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital as a tertiary hospital for training doctors.

Adding that capacity in the Health sector has been expanded with more personnel and better equipment.

“There are many innovations that have enabled the APC to record these successes in governing Kaduna State. The state’s internally generated revenue has increased four times within five years, from N13bn in 2015 to N52bn in 2020. This was achieved without increasing taxes. The APC government under El-Rufai paid civil servants as much as 100% of their salary as a December bonus. Kaduna State was the first to pay the new minimum wage, starting from September 2019. This government also increased the minimum pension to N30,000 monthly for retirees on the old defined benefits scheme. As PENCOM records show, Kaduna State is one of the few states that are faithfully implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme. This government has paid over N14bn in arrears of pension and gratuity that the PDP left unpaid since 2010.”

Rubbishing the opposition, the APC said Governor El-Rufai’s administration has brought innovation and progress to Kaduna State, even as it continues to clear the mess the PDP left behind in all sectors.

APC said: “Governance is a serious activity, meant for those with a track record of serious endeavours, vision, values and clear policies. It is not for idle bloggers that think that decades of scavenging off the woes of people qualify them for leadership. Neither is it for persons whose record as civil servants contains no hint that they are capable of serious responsibility.

“It is not for persons who for two years remained clueless when fate handed them power, concentrating instead on their vain looks and grand titles. This cast of characters is clear evidence that the PDP is clearly wedded to the sorry past, but the people of Kaduna State have moved on.

The APC accused the PDP of being too quick to condemn the ruling government, adding that it often try to introduce politics in everything.

The ruling part boasts that just like in 2015 and 2019, the people of Kaduna State will again reject a party that for 16 years was unable to do much to either inspire progress and development or deliver good governance.

“Our people have seen beyond those who think that their own bread is buttered by promoting dependence rather than a serious effort to address poverty, empower people and expand equal opportunity,” it stressed.

This article was originally published on Naija News