*says 2023 Kaduna Guber race is fierce
*insist on powershift
*say they are open to other non Southern Kaduna candidates
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has described the emergence of four gubernatorial candidates from Southern Kaduna ahead of the 2023 elections as a result of bad governance
SOKAPU President, Awemi Dio Maisamari expressed this in a statement he personally signed, issued to newsmen at the weekend in Kadunà.
“The emergence of four gubernatorial candidates from Southern Kaduna should not be viewed only negatively talk less of generating panic.
“This is the logical outcome of the loud outcries for better leadership in general and the horrifying fallout from the el-Rufai maladministration in Kaduna State.
“It is also an expression of the yearnings for more political space, choice and opportunities as voter confidence in mainstream parties is badly shaken. Southern Kaduna must keep abreast of evolving political trends while plotting its way forward,” SOKAPU said.
The group boasted that Southern Kaduna will not be intimidated by subsisting unfair political arrangements.
“In spite if all odds, we must do everything necessary to fully utilize the obvious demographic advantages we have. Let us overcome scare mongers spreading fear among us to weaken our progressive resolve to pursue justice and equity at all times.
“Most especially, let us muster the courage and the will to take risks, eschew selfish or micro interests and do the needful in the face of uncertainties. He who waits for certainty will wait forever,” they stressed.
The group said that the stakes in the 2023 elections are particularly high.
“The competition is also fierce. But we must keep the contest open, fair, decent and brotherly. By all means, we must not allow the ”Phd” (pull him down) syndrome to rear its ugly head. That is what SOKAPU demands from all political players and commentators.
According to the statement titled, “THE POSITION OF THE SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES UNION (SOKAPU) ON THE EMERGENCE OF FOUR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES FROM SOUTHERN KADUNA FOR THE 2023 ELECTIONS, they said that it has become necessary for them to state their position on the increased interest of distinguished sons of Southern Kaduna to contest for the governorship of Kaduna State come 2023.
“The increased interest is evidenced by the fact that four indigenes of the area have already emerged.
“The Candidates are: 1. Mr Timothy Adamu of the Action Alliance (AA)
2. Rev Andrew Duya of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
4. Sen. Caleb Zagi of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and, 4. Hon. Jonathan Asake of the Labour Party (LP)
“SOKAPU wishes to congratulate these courageous individuals who secured the nominations of their parties after no candidate of Southern Kaduna extraction was able to secure the nomination of any of the two major parties in the country, i.e. the APC and the PDP.
“We believe that Southern Kaduna under SOKAPU should be unanimous now and going forward in making a very strong case for gubernatorial power shift or rotation in Kaduna State,” the group insisted.
They stressed that it is for this purpose that they want to make the following clarifications, including that every gubernatorial candidate is exercising his constitutional rights to vote and be voted for.
“SOKAPU respects these rights and maintains a position of neutrality between all of them. Therefore we will give a level playing ground to all (including non-Southern Kaduna) candidates.
“However, a SOKAPU Political Committee was set up in April this year and is saddled with the responsibility of making recommendations on the best political direction for Southern Kaduna come 2023.
“This is part of the SOKAPU and Southern Kaduna internal mechanism for monitoring, analysing and addressing political issues. This will ensure that the concerns and interests of Southern Kaduna are properly taken care of as well as to promote the equitable overall development of Kaduna State.
“Consequently, the 2023 elections in general and the Kaduna State gubernatorial elections in particular are being monitored closely.
“In view of this, SOKAPU members in particular and Southern Kaduna people in general are advised to remain calm as everything is being done to safeguard the genuine interests and aspirations of our people”.
They thanked all individual and group stakeholders in Southern Kaduna who have restrained themselves from making public comments so far.
“We also commend all those who have bought into the principle of rotation with or power shift to Southern Kaduna.
“We urge our egg heads to articulate seminal ideas and strategies to extricate Southern Kaduna from its disadvantaged position. And we call on our people not to despair but keep faith and be committed to the struggle for a better tomorrow.
“Southern Kaduna must not disappoint itself, its friends and well wishers at critical times like this,” they pointed out.
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