President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the battle for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the North West, garnering ringing endorsements from stakeholders in Sokoto and Kebbi State.

The Goodluck / Sambo Presidential Campaign organization led by its Director General, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, yesterday stormed Kebbi state and received a rousing welcome by PDP stakeholders in the state.The Goodluck/Sambo campaign team also met with religious leaders, members of the state assembly and party leaders in the state. 

The campaign had kicked off Monday in Sokoto as part of effort to seek support of delegates in the party’s forthcoming primaries. In Kebbi, Tafida told the stakeholders that the team was in the state to solicit for their support. 

He also told the people that within the brief period of becoming president, Dr. Jonathan had shown enough commitment to the zone to warrant him asking for their support.

 He therefore charged the people to reciprocate the president’s commitment by supporting the Goodluck/Sambo ticket for the unity of the country. “We are here to solicit for your support. We are at the moment discussing with those who are supposed to give us vote,” he said.

He added, “Kebbi state is part of the caliphate which is known for its honesty. So whatever you tell us, I will believe and I believe from what you told me today that Kebbi is fully delivered.” 

In his remarks, the state party chairman, Alhaji Mansur Shehu, who avoided making a categorical statement so as not to be accused of taking side, assured the Goodluck/Sambo campaign team that he was in full control of the party structure in the state.

He said that the state had grown above primordial sentiments; adding “we know that ethnicity and sentiment cannot take the country forward.”

Shehu further assured the team that the party in the state “will x-ray and ensure that the best candidate emerges as the next president,” adding “we will go through their past achievements.”

He also commended the president for according the state the needed attention and support especially during the recent floods in some parts of the state.

In Sokoto, the campaign council had audience with Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar III and PDP stakeholders in the state, including members of the state assembly, council chairmen and party leaders from all the councils.

The campaign team asked the people of Sokoto to support the Goodluck/Sambo project which it described as the best for the country going by the plans to ensure better lives for the people and to improve education.

The strategic place of the state in the country’s political landscape, Tafida said, on the occasion, explained why the campaign organization chose to kick off the campaign there.

“We are here not because there is no PDP in this state or PDP government but because we also know that there are other suitors who are also seeking for support from here, but we also know that the state will also be looking for the best so we said we should come as we have the position to contest for the best suitor.

“We know the governor is in position to help us but we just came to seek for your support and understanding and for you to do everything possible to put the JGoodlcuk/Sambo ticket in your radar so that when the primaries come to hold we can rightly be in the centre of your radar,” Tafida said.

In his response, Governor Mohammed Wamako assured that the state was ready to back any project that would foster the unity of the country.The governor who received the Goodluck/Sambo campaign DG also advised politicians against capitalizing on issues that would not serve the interest of the country and advised that people should begin to focus on issue that will enhance the nation’s greatness. 

“When it comes to leadership Sokoto is a place to look at as far as Nigerian politics is concerned. Sokoto state is always ready to back whatever project that will make the country one, united and viable country. We are a country that is well blessed by God. But we are also a country where people always  want to make it difficult for governance to progress,” the governor said.

“This is a period to project the country well and not a time to look at small issues and make them the news item instead of taking the important issues of this great country Nigeria.

“Feel free as this is a home of PDP. I also want to send this warning that Sokoto is one united strong PDP family. Don’t be distracted by people who are going to Abuja, try to talk to the states not those in Abuja but to those on the ground in the state,” Wamako added.

Sully Abu,Director, Publicity and Media,Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization