From Our Political Correspondent
Governor Abdullahi Sule has vowed to not only deliver his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in all subsequent elections in Nasarawa State but will ensure that the opposition is crushed beyond redemption.
Governor Sule made the vow while playing host to stakeholders from the Nasarawa West senatorial district who were on a solidarity visit at the Government House on Thursday.
Commenting on his experience since after the 2023 general election, the Governor promised to approach the 2027 general election determined to not only win the governorship and other elections but to crush the opposition in the state.
He therefore called on the members of the APC to unite and to form a common front ahead of the scheduled local government election.
According to Governor Sule, the coming local government elections will mark the commencement of activities leading to the 2027 general elections in the state.
"With what we have gone through and where we are today, with the understanding of the plan that these people have, we have no option than to unite and do not allow whoever takes over to go through the challenges that I have gone through.
"We can unite and grow stronger as a party. We must make a way to set aside whatever differences we have so that we can come stronger. so that next time by the grace of God, I do not want us to win elections, I want us to crush the opposition. I will go into that election as if I am the one looking for that office. Because I am going with the vengeance of what has been done to me," he stated.
The Governor assured that he would not interfere in the process of selecting candidates that would fly the flag of the party during the local government election but however called on the stakeholders not to impose candidates that may constitute to challenge to the party.
"The election of 2027 begins with the elections of local government. Everyone has the right to seek to become chairman of a local government. However, the moment the process produces one person, I pray and hope, that everyone of us would turn around and support that person so that together we can work as a team.
"I promise you that I am not going to interfere unnecessarily where I will impose people who would not win elections. But I hope from your own side, you would not be unnecessarily supporting people that you know have challenges in winning elections in your area. Present people who can win the election because I want us to win the elections," he said.
Governor Sule used the opportunity of the visit to clear the air over the matter of Fulani vigilante group, dismissing insinuations that he may have contradicted himself when he denied knowledge about the activities of the group.
"There is no need to misconstrue my remarks. I said I am aware there is a vigilante group that has been working with security agencies. And anybody from Toto who likes to be honest with himself would tell you that this vigilante group of the Fulani have been supportive and working closely not with the government but with the security agencies.
"And we never wanted to deal directly with them but we are very familiar that they do that work. Because of that we have been able to prevent several attacks in Toto Local Government Area," he added.
The Governor equally spoke on the measures taken by his administration, in conjunction with the security agencies to tackle the recent attack by suspected militias in Toto Local Government Area, adding that steps have been taken to restore peace to the area.
While appreciating the people of the Nasarawa West senatorial zone for standing with him during and after the 2023 general election, Governor Sule assured that he would be fair to the zone.
He promised that his administration would deliver more projects than he did in the past four years before the end of his second tenure.
Aside of executive identified projects in the zone and across the state, Governor Sule promised to work in the next three years to ensure he transformed Lafia, the state capital to a level where every son and daughter of the state would be proud.
Leader of the delegation and first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, vouched that the APC will continue to win elections in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.
Senator Adamu said the APC won the 2023 governorship election buy that the opposition had to find a shoulder to cry on.
"And the shoulders of the national leadership of the APC is strong enough, is bold enough to accommodate all the hues and cries. We decided to be law abiding. We knew we won the election. God Has given us this victory but the opposition being what they are they decided to challenge us. We do not begrudge them. We do not blame them. The winner will always be a winner. APC is the winner. We will continue to win. APC will continue to win in Nasarawa State and all over Nigeria," he said.
The former national chairman of the APC described Governor Sule's victory at the supreme court as a testimony of the good work he has done.
"Even your staunch enemy, if you have any, the advocates of failure have failed. You have proved your mettle. You have proved you are worthy of the office entrusted you by God through the people of Nasarawa State.
"We were in this hall when you were hardly one year in office and told you to get ready for a second term. We were insulted. Some were not happy with our stand. But we stuck to our guns. We worked hard in collaboration with other zones in the state and God has blessed our efforts," he said.
Senator Adamu assured the Governor that the people of Nasarawa West would stand by him shoulder to shoulder towards ensuring that he performed better than he did during his first term in office.
"The people of Nasarawa State have given you another mandate, we believe and trust that you would do better in your second term. We want to assure you that we will stand by you shoulder to shoulder to ensure that you break your record.
"Of course, I was a governor. I am not jealous of anybody breaking my record. I am happy if that record is broken. We want to assure you that you can count on us today, tomorrow and for ever," he stated.
Senator Adamu then challenged stakeholders from across the two remaining zones to pay similar visit at the Government House to also celebrate the collective victory of the people of the state.
Among the stakeholders on the solidarity visit from Nasarawa West senatorial district include, the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, Senator Abubakar Sodangi, Hon. Abdulmunini Mohammed Ari, member representing Nasarawa-Toto Federal Constituency, Hon. Baba Shehu, and Hon. Mohammed Sani Ottos, chairmen of Keffi and Nasarawa Local Government Areas respectively, amongst others.
