The Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2015 election, Umar Nasko, has declared that he has no plan to contest the governorship election in 2019.
In a statement titled: “My Position on the 2019 Elections”, Nasko said his foundation, the Umar Nasko Foundation, is meant to touch the lives of people and not to start any campaign.
He said to move the country forward, people should stop wasting time on trivialities, including political affiliations, ethnicity and religious leanings.
Nasko said: “When I contested for the Niger State governorship election in 2015, nobody compelled me to do so. I presented myself based on my convictions that I had ideas that I believe, working with a good team, we can implement to positively impact the lives of the citizens.
“While the elections have come and gone, those ideas still remain, and haunt me day and night to execute and leave a positive impact, no matter how little they may be in the grand scheme of things. Launching the Umar Nasko Foundation was for me a channel to bring to life those ideas I had that made me offer myself for public service. I have no plans or intentions to contest the Niger State governorship elections in 2019.
He added: “The scope of the Umar Nasko Foundation is Pan Nigeria and not Niger State. And the foundation is focused on actualizing innovations that improve access to health, clean water, and youth employment. This is why since we launched, aside critical, live-saving medical interventions and a handful of education focused stipends which were directly channeled to the institutions in question, the foundation rarely gives cash to individuals.
“Patriots like His Eminence, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Wole Soyinka, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Aliko Dangote, and Chimamanda Adichie to mention a few, continue to wield significant influence that makes a positive impact on our society without holding political positions, thereby underlining the fact that you don’t have to be in politics or hold political power to drive development.”
Nasko urged his supporters to eschew political assumptions and innuendos, adding that they should focus on what can be done to improve the lives of the people.