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Tag: Shekarau

  • Shekarau to PDP: ‘You lack internal democracy’

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday with a declaration that the party lacks internal democracy.

    Shekarau switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with thousands of supporters at his Mundunbawa residence in Bompai, Kano.

    Interchanging between Hausa and English, the former education minister said he and his supporters  decided to leave the PDP on the strength of  the over-bearing privileges accorded Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to take over 51 per cent of the party structure, without respect to the party’s constitution.

    Shekarau promised to ensure that Kano and Nigeria continue to benefit from his wealth of experience in the APC.

    Shedding light on his defection, the former minister said: “Chapter two, part one, section A, sub-section 17 of the PDP constitution, reads and I quote, ‘a person who has earlier decamped (sic) from the party, but later decided to return to the party, he shall lose the seniority and the privileges conferred on him by his previous status.’

    “This is in the Constitution of the party. The latest amended Constitution of the 2017 of PDP contains this:

    “We, therefore, argued that in relation to this provision, when we welcomed all decampees (sic), when we celebrated the return of our brothers to PDP, we must accommodate them within the provisions of the Constitution.

    “And secondly, on the issue of granting them positions in the leadership of the party, we also quoted a section of the Constitution chapter 9, section 49, sub-section 4 which reads as follows: “no member of the party shall be qualified for nomination, or election, or appointment into any of the offices of the party unless he or she has become a registered member for, at least, 18 months in the party.”

    “So, we felt the returnees who have come in the last one or two months have failed to meet with the requirement of this section of the party’s constitution for them to occupy any elective office in the party, let alone, removing an elected officer and accommodating someone who has not spent the minimum number of months in the party; and there is provision for waiver.

    “The waiver provides that the only reason you can occupy an office without this 18 months requirement, you have to be granted a waiver. The procedure of the waiver is that you must go back to your Ward level

    “The Ward level executive should consider when you apply in writing to grant you waiver. If they approve, they recommend you for waiver to the Local Government executive council.

    “The Local Government executive council will consider your request. If they approve, they refer you to the state executive council.

    “If the state executive council considers your application, they will recommend and approve you to the National Executive Council.

    “It is only the National Executive Council that can grant the waiver for you to vie any elective position in the party if you have not spent 18 months.

    “We argued that none of these returnees has gone through this process; none of them has spent up to 18 months; none of them will, therefore, benefit from the privileges and outrageous conditions given to them.

    “This was our stand; this was the stand of the PDP stakeholders in Kano.

    “We conveyed this to the party’s national secretariat. In spite of this, people prevailed on us; we decided to invite former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso as a family member for us to meet.

    “Our leader, Ambassador Aminu Wali, myself, Senator Bello Hayatu and our state chairman, Senator Masaud El-Jubrin Doguwa—four of us represented the stakeholders of Kano PDP.

    “We invited Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to come with his representatives, but he came alone. We met in Kaduna. When we were to start deliberations, Kwankwaso said ‘I am in possession of the recommendations or agreement with the party—which we didn’t have.

    “Kwankwaso said that he wanted 51 percent and we said we were not willing to agree to that.

    “This deliberation could not continue. We held four separate meetings with Kwankwaso and the Committee of Liyel Imoke.

    “We went as far as granting delegates at the Ward level that would be shared between Aminu Wali’s group, my group and Kwankwaso’s group; but Kwankwaso said he did not recognize such.

    “What he was after was that he would be granted 51 percent of the party structure at all levels; which we said we would not tolerate.

    “On the basis of this, the National Chairman decided that we of the PDP in Kano were not cooperating.

    “He felt we were not cooperating. Because of this, he felt we had disagreed with the party and therefore, he pronounced the dissolution of the party structure in Kano which is unconstitutional; and we said we don’t recognize it.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shekarau officially defects to APC

    Former Governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has formally defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)

    Shekarau made the declaration on Saturday in Kano while addressing his followers who converged on his personal residence at Mundubawa quarters in Kano metropolis.

    He said that his decision to leave PDP was necessitated by the failure of the National leadership to resolve the lingering crisis which bedevilled the party following the illegal dissolution of the state executive committee.

    He explained that the leadership had violated the party constitution by dissolving the state executive committee without giving any cogent reason.

    Shekarau added that as a result of the injustice by the PDP and after series of meetings with stakeholders he decided to dump PDP without any formal conditions attached.

    “Weighing the available three options, that is either to remain where we are, retire from politics or defect to another party.

    “So finally I Ibrahim Shekarau, Sardaunan Kano and my followers have resolved to defect to All Progressives Congress (APC) from today, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018,’’ he said.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi

    According to him, the dissolution of the Kano State Executive Committee of the PDP and subsequent setting up of a seven-member Caretaker committee is against the constitution of the PDP.

    “We have tried our best to ensure amicable resolution of the lingering crisis between our side and Kwankwaso side on the sharing of party positions at the state, local government and ward levels but it failed,” he said.

    Shekarau said he had no option than to leave PDP because of the inability of its national leadership to respect the earlier court order restraining it from taking the action it took.

    NAN reports that the Deputy state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim KT and secretary, Alhaji Auwalu Danzabuwa as well as gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the party also defected to APC at the occasion.

  • Shekarau dumps PDP

    Former Governor of Kano State Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The 2011 presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) left the PDP after the party leadership dissolved the Kano State Executive Council and set up a caretaker committee dominated by supporters of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has just returned to the pary.

    Shekarau has met with Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and was expected to meet with his supporters before formalising his return to the APC, four years after he left the party.

    Shekarau yesterday left Abuja for Kano for consultations with his supporters and other stakeholders on his defection.

    It was learnt that Shekarau and his supporters were unhappy that the PDP defied an order of the Federal High Court to dissolve the Kano Chapter of the party.

    Also, out of the seven-man caretaker committee put in pace, Kwankwaso was allotted five sots and the remaining two were left for Shekarau and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Aminu Wali.

    The Special Adviser on Media to the former governor, Dr. Sule Yau Sule, said Shekarau would meet with stakeholders yesterday or today.

    “After meeting with the stakeholders, he will announce his plans either to defect to APC or otherwise.”

    Yau described how PDP treated the ex-governor as an act of injustice.

    He added: “We obtained an order from the Federal High Court in Kano stopping the PDP from dissolving the legally elected PDP Executive Council in  the state. The party disregarded the order and went ahead to put in place a seven-man caretaker committee.

    “Out of the seven members, five came from Kwankwaso’s camp and two were conceded to Shekarau and Amb. Wali. These two leaders were not allowed to even nominate who should be their representatives in the committee.

    “To represent ex-Governor Shekarau, a former Chairman of Bebeji Local Government Area, Namadi Bebeji, was handpicked. He was once Shekarau’s supporter before he ported to Kwankwaso’s camp. He is politically no longer in Shekarau’s group.  Bebeji even attended Kwankwaso’s declaration rally in Abuja.

    “So, it is like Kwankwaso controlling the entire caretaker committee. Yet, the national secretariat of PDP does not see anything wrong with it.”

    Sule added:  “The defection of Shekarau to the APC is not yet official but there are moves to that effect.  We are going to hold stakeholders meeting that will finally decide the next direction.

    “My boss has met with Governor Ganduje in Abuja and they have discussed “.

    The leadership of the PDP is making a last ditch effort to prevent Shekarau’s defection.

    A statement by its spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) assures that no stone will be left unturned in the overall quest to bring good governance to Kano state, while putting in place machinery to hedge the infiltration of fifth columnists into the party’s fold in the state.

    “The party leadership further assures of its preparedness to engage with all stakeholders in Kano provided all matters in court against the party are withdrawn, as all members work together to build a united PDP that can confront and send out incompetent and insensitive people in governance in Kano state and Nigeria at large.

    “Furthermore, the NWC urges all stakeholders to always emulate our members in Benue state in the way and manner they united to resolve all issues concerning party structures of their state”.

  • Shekarau, Wali, Gwarzo reject Kano PDP exco dissolution

    Kano State stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rejected the dissolution of the executive (exco) of the party.

    Addressing thousands of party faithful at the state secretariat on Maiduguri Road, Kano State, on behalf of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Amb. Aminu Wali and Senator Bello Gwarzo, Sarki Labaran, an engineer, said the action of the national headquarters was illegal and could not stand.

    He frowned at the manner former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had been conducting himself since he defected to the party, saying “this calls for concern.”

    Labaran accused him of causing disaffection in the once peaceful party.

    The former commissioner during the administration of Malam Shekarau said PDP contradicted itself by the dissolution, noting that the state executive elected members of the National Working Committee, as such it should also be dissolved.

    Labaran wondered why such action should be taken by the national executive of the party, saying the exco’s tenure had not expired and they had not been found wanting in anything that could warrant the dissolution.

    The state Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim KT, also condemned the sudden dissolution, saying: “We are not in support of such dissolution. We are in support of the Masaud El-jibrin Doguwa- led leadership of the party.

    “We cannot allow somebody to come and hijack the party, which we suffered to build. We will not support the dissolution of the 484 wards.”

    Doguwa said on the phone that he remained the chairman of the party.

    He said: “I’m yet to be communicated over the said dissolution.

    “Nobody has the power to unilaterally dissolve our exco. This cannot stand and will never stand, because it is unconstitutional.”

    On the court order restraining the national headquarters from dissolving the state exco, Doguwa said: “The court action wasn’t instituted by my exco, some loyal party members whom I’m in support of approached the court.”

     

  • 2019 poll: FCTA orders Turaki, Lamido, Shekarau, Gana, others to relocate campaign offices

    Ahead of party primaries for the 2019 elections, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered all presidential aspirants and political parties with offices within residential areas and diplomatic zones to vacate such buildings.

    No fewer than 35 of the 68 registered parties are affected by the directive.

    The FCTA claimed that the location of the party and campaign offices undermine public safety and jeopardise comfort and conveniences.

    The affected aspirants and parties have up till August 9 to vacate the offices or have the buildings sealed off.

    But some of the affected parties and aspirants have condemned the move as ill-timed and sheer intolerance of opposition.

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and Shekarau Campaign Organisation, however, said they would abide by the directive.

    The politicians affected by the directive include presidential aspirants like ex-Minister Tanimu Kabir Turaki, ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; former Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Sule Lamido and ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP); the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDM were also affected.

    According to FCTA records, former Governor Lamido has his campaign secretariat in a diplomatic area in Thaba Tseka Street in British Village, Maitama. Turaki’s campaign office is located at 40, Jimmy Carter Street. Asokoro, which is less than three-minute drive from the Presidential Villa. The SDP secretariat is situated at 9, Yedseram Street, Maitama, within the precincts of some embassies. Shekarau’s office is sited behind the ECOWAS Secretariat at 40, Gnassingbe Eyadema Street in Asokoro ahile the PDM National Secretariat is at 72, Mississippi Street, Maitama; a highbrow enclave with some diplomatic presence. Gana, on his part, operates from a residence in Guzape District.

    Most of the parties were alleged to be operating from residential buildings in Utako, Zone 6, Asokoro, Garki Area 3 and 11, Gwarimpa Estate and Apo Resettlement, among others.

    Other affected parties include National Conscience Party (1, Yaounde Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja); Unity Party of Nigeria (Block 10, Flat 1, Amasuma Close, Area 2, Section 1, Garki – Abuja); Accord (Plot 488, 7 Yauri Street, Area 3, Garki Abuja); Action Alliance (Plot 1977 Orlu Street, Area 3, Garki, Abuja); All Blending Party (Plot 614, Zone B, Apo Resettlement, Abuja); Alliance for Democracy (4 Aba Close, Area 8, Garki, Abuja); Action Democratic Party (Plot 3379A, Mungo Park Close, Off Jesse Jackson Asokoro New Extension-Abuja); All Grand Alliance Party (Plot 586, David Jemibewon Crescent, Gudu District-Abuja) and All Progressives Grand Alliance(41B Libreville Crescent , Opp. Tulip Press, Aminu Kano Crescent , Wuse 11, Abuja ).

    Also affected are Better Nigeria Progressive Party (Block 5, Lokoja Street Area 8 Garki Abuja); Hope Democratic Party (Plot 43 Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja); Mega Progressive Peoples Party (1st Avenue, House 53, FHA, Lugbe, Abuja); Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (28 Tunis Street Wuse Zone 6); New Generation Party of Nigeria (No 9B, 61/63 Road, Aliko Dangote Crescent, Gwarinpa-Abuja); Young Progressive Party (Block 10, Flat No. 1 Benue Crescent, Area 1, Garki Abuja); People’s Alliance for National Development & Liberty (9 Abdou Diouf Off Kwame Nkruma St, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (Warri Street, off Emeka Anyoku Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja).

    The FCTA has also wielded the big stick by putting an end to the conversion of residential buildings to party or campaign offices.

    The July 9 quit notice was signed by the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Tpl Umaru Shuaib with a month deadline.

    The notice said: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has observed with dismay the proliferation of illegal conversion of buildings located within residential plots and diplomatic zones into political offices.

    “This inappropriate conversion of residential building into political campaign offices undermines public safety, jeopardise comfort and conveniences.

    “It also generates nuisance and traffic that threatens the peace of residents of the FCT.

    “This illegal conversion is repugnant and inconsistent with the extant status, approved Land Use Plan of the Federal Capital City (FCC), which further violates the city’s Master Plan.

    “The Federal Capital Territory Administration has therefore directed that political campaign offices currently occupying buildings located within residential plots and diplomatic zones should quit such premises and relocate to plots designated by the Abuja Master Plan for such purpose/use.

    “All concerned entities/ groups are expected to quit the residential buildings they are currently occupying, revert to residential use and ensure compliance within 30 days of this publication.

    “Similarly, all persons or organizations that deface public facilities with posters and bill boards of all kinds at unauthorized places are warned that they are liable for prosecution.

    “The concerned entities are hereby urged to be guided and ensure full compliance in order to avoid the relevant sanctions.

    But while some of the affected parties and aspirants have condemned the move as ill-timed and sheer intolerance of the opposition, Shekarau Campaign Organisation said it would abide by the directive.

    The Director of Media and Publicity of Tanimu Kabiru Turaki Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sola Atere, described the directive as unfortunate.

    He said: “There was no prior discussion; neither was there any notification nor letter given to us. Yet, we have been paying statutory bills to Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and FCT Water Board and they have been collecting and sending bills since we started using the premises in February this year.

    “The building was being used for commercial purposes before we came in. We are even neighbours to a federal government agency, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation. Why have they neglected to enforce their regulations in places such as Gwarinpa residential estate where houses on major avenues have been converted to malls in many cases?

    “There is this perception that it is an attempt to intimidate the opposition.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of SDP, Alfa Mohammed, said: “Such a notice is mischievous and sheer intolerance of the opposition. The FCTA never gave such a directive in the past but why now?

    “At a critical time when the 2019 poll is about four to five months away, you don’t begin to introduce a policy to drive parties underground.

    “We know that if a party is the target, many parties can be sacrificed to reach a target.”

    The Director of Media and Publicity of Shekarau Campaign Organization, Dr. Sule Yau said: “We are law-abiding citizens. We will comply with the directive. Whatever the government is coming out with, we will abide by it.”

    Also, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Alh. Bashir Yusuf said: “I think it is a legal directive. The truth is that residential buildings and diplomatic areas are not conducive for political activities.

    “But political leaders and parties are constrained because there are no enough buildings in the designated areas to occupy. I see no problem with the directive.”

    Reactions from Lamido and Gana were being awaited at the time of filing this report.

  • N950m fraud: Court adjourns Shekarau, others case to October 18

    A Federal high court sitting in Kano Tuesday adjourned the N950million fraud suit, involving the former governor of Kano state Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Minister of Foreign Affairs ambassador Aminu Wali and Director General Goodluck Jonathan Campaign organization, Engr. Mansur Ahmed till October 18, 2018.

    The three suspects were accused of criminal offence of money laundering to the tune N950million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which each of them allegedly collected N25million to facilitate former president Jonathan’s 2015 presidential campaign.

    In his submission, the prosecuting counsel Barr. Jonson Ojogbane informed the court that EFCC had already applied for the transfer of the matter, through the Chief Justice of the Federal high court in Abuja, from Kano to another judicial division due to security threat. Barr. Ojogbone thereby sought for adjournment of the suit to enable them conclude the process of the transfer, expediently waiting for the lordship approval.

    According to the EFCC lawyer “ I wish to inform the court that, after we left here on the last day, due to the difficult situation we find ourselves and subsequent even same day at our Kano office, it is practically impossible for us to continue to prosecute this case in this judicial division. Consequently, we wrote a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal high court in Abuja on the 1st June, 2018, seeking for his gracious intervention, to transfer this case from this division to another division which is saver to all concern.

    Read Also: N950m fraud: Shekarau, two others quizzed

    “ We also further wrote an application, dated 25th June, 2018, for the adjournment of this case to enable us complete the process of the transfer. Section 98 sub-section (1)(2)

    Of the administration of criminal justice act.2015, where its stated clear that, the Chief Judge has the power to transfer a case from one court to another, we wish to apply that this case is adjourned to another.

    Interjected midway, the presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Abubakar Kaji insisted that the prosecution counsel cannot request for such application for adjournment without specifically mentioning a date that will be convenient to both parties.

    On his part, counsel to the first defendant (Ibrahim Shekarau) Jibrin S. Okutepa (SAN), who vehemently opposed the application on transfer of the case from Kano insisted that the transfer was a sign that the prosecution was not prepared to continue with the suit.

    Okutepa who argued that the prosecution has not excuse to apply for such application on the basis of security threat with all the security apparatus at his disposal, also averred that the prosecution was not mindful of financial expenses and other implications that might cause his clients.

    According to Okutepa “ We are in court this morning (Tuesday), we walk to the court in peace, we are worried that the prosecution who has all the apparatus at his disposal will entertain such fears and went ahead to apply for the transfer of this case. It is a sign that the prosecution are not ready”.

    Counsel to second (Aminu Wali) and third ( Mansur Ahmad) defendants, Sam T. Ologunorisa (SAN) who also challenged the prosecution’s application for transfer however raised alarm that from intelligence report that ”there is the likelihood that our clients and over 50 witnesses maybe kidnapped on their way to Abuja.

    In her ruling the presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Abukakar said “application such as this, are meant for the court to stay action, until the Chief Judge response or accede to the request, on whether the case will continue in Kano or not.

    The Judge thereby adjourned the case to 18th of October, 2018, pending the request before the Chief Judge.

  • ‘N950m fraud’: Shekarau, others granted bail as police disperse supporters with tear-gas, bullets

    THERE was confusion yesterday around the Kano Federal High Court on Court Road after the former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau, ex- Director-General of former President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation Ambassador Aminu Wali and Munsur Ahmad were granted bail.

    The trio were arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge, bordering on alleged conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    But trouble started when Shekarau’s supporters attempted to forcefully enter into the court premises. But the police stopped them by shooting live bullets sporadically into the air to scare them.

    The security operatives later extended their attacks by shooting canisters of tear-gas into the court premises.

    This forced lawyers, reporters and court officials to scamper for safety.

    The security men then went after the protesters, using the butts of their guns as well as flogging them.

    The three accused persons were arraigned on six-count charges, bordering on money laundering, an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011 as amended.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the six charges.

    Counsel to the EFCC J.A. Ojogbane opposed the defence counsel’s bail application.

    Ojogbane insisted that the affidavit submitted for bail application was against Section 155 of the Evidence Act.

    He noted that there was no bail application before the court.

    Counsel to the accused Sam Ologunorisa, SAN, who did not oppose the prosecution counsel’s argument, however, sought the leave of the court for bail application.

    The defence counsel, who relied on Section 163 of the Administrative of Criminal Justice Act in a 10-paragraph affidavit, insisted that the offence is bailable.

    After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Abubakar stood down the proceedings for about 40 minutes.

    The judge, after the recess, granted the accused bail on six conditions.

    She said they should be remanded in EFCC custody pending when they will fulfill the bail conditions.

    The conditions include N100 million naira each and two sureties with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The landed property must have a C-of-O and must be verified by the Ministry of Land and deposited with the court registrar. The second surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of a director.

    The judge added that the accused should submit their international passports with the registrar and two copies of recent passport-sized photographs.

    The case has been adjourned to June 26.

     

     

     

  • N950m fraud: Shekarau, two others to be arraigned today

    EX-Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau was, yesterday, detained at the Kano office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Detained with the former minister of Education is ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Aminu Wali, and Mansur Ahmad, for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

    They  were quizzed for over an hour and released on Tuesday.

    Yesterday, the EFCC detained them for possible arraignment today at the Federal High Court in Kano.

    Shekarau is accused of collecting N25 million from the N950 million logistics money for 2015 elections.

  • N950m fraud: Shekarau, two others quizzed

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invited ex-Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau; former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Aminu Wali, and Mansur Ahmad, for alleged money laundering.

    Shekarau and the two were quizzed for over an hour for allegedly laundering N950 million, funds earmarked for 2015 election.

    Shekarau’s lawyer Abdul Adamu Fage said his client and others were at the EFCC to honour an invitation in preparation for their arraignment tomorrow.

    He said: “Shekarau is being investigated alongside Mansur Ahmad and Aminu Wali on a six-count charge of laundering.

    “Shekarau is accused of collecting N25 million from the N950 million. We are here to honour their invitation after we received their letter about a week ago, demanding that our clients be available today for further questioning in preparation for Thursday’s arraignment.”

    But a statement by Shekarau’s media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite lack of evidence, is insisting on prosecuting the former minister of Education for the N25 million 2015 election logistics fund allegedly given to him.

    “Since 2016, when the issue came up, Shekarau was invited by the EFCC to explain the amount given to him with other stakeholders in Kano, but he denied ever receiving such amount, and even challenged EFCC to produce anyone who gave him the money, or any evidence to prove that he actually collected the money.

    “Based on this, the former minister was asked to go. However, surprisingly, for reasons best known to EFCC, we received communication from the agency that the former minister is to be arraigned at a Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday over the same charges.”

  • 2019: Shekarau joins race for PDP’s presidential ticket

    Former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has signified his intention to contest for the presidency in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Shekarau, who is also the immediate past Minister of Education, said in a letter made available to newsmen on Monday, that his decision to seek for PDP’s presidential ticket was informed by clarion calls from Nigerians and after wide consultations.

    “As you may be aware, for quite some time now, since after the 2015 general elections, there have been various calls made by individuals and groups from many quarters, nationwide, urging my humble candidature for the contest of the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the next general elections, due in 2019.

    “I strongly believe that the people are doing so out of their conviction of contentment and satisfaction based upon the modest successes recorded while I served as the Governor of Kano State (2003 to 2011), and also as a Minister of Education (July 2014 – May 2015).

    “In response to these calls, and in view of the seeming intricacies and the boundless complexities involved in such a national assignment, I have consulted across the geopolitical zones and different interest groups, who examined and appraised the issue and advised me accordingly.

    “I am pleased to say, based on these wide consultations, that I am better informed and convinced that participating in the democratic process of serving humanity goes beyond party affiliations/boundaries, and also beyond just winning an election.

    “I have therefore decided to accept the clarion calls, and will in due course and in accordance with the guidelines of my party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), offer my humble self for the contest of the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the forthcoming 2019 general elections,” Shekarau said.

    With the declaration, Shekarau had joined the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Ibrahim  Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, former Kaduna State governor and Ahmed Makarfi and others  who were reportedly seeking PDP’s presidential ticket.