Governor. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State says he has concluded consultations with political leaders nationwide and now ready to declare his intention to contest the 2015 presidential elections.
This was disclosed to newsmen in Abuja on Monday by one of Kwankwaso’s campaign coordinators, Chief Olisaemeka Akamukali.
According to Akamukali, Kwankwaso, who will announce his intention on October 23, has age, political experience and a good followership at the grassroots on his side.
“We agree that Buhari is a man of integrity but you will also agree with me that age is not on his side. He is 71 going to 72 years, while the ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is almost 70 years old.
“But Kwankwaso will be 58 years old by October 21; It is also not true that the governor is a dark horse in the contest. Kwankwaso has had long years of experience in politics beginning from 1991 when he emerged the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Social Democratic Party.
“He had been a parliamentarian, a governor and two-time minister. Upon losing the election in Kano State, he congratulated the winner and waited for eight years before staging a come-back to defeat the incumbent.
“The governor is a grassroots politician and one who tries to carry his followers along in his undertakings,’’ Akamukali said.
The campaign coordinator said he would not be surprised if the governor’s former colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party would want to support his aspiration to become president.
On the governor’s qualification, Akamukali said Kwankwaso had a doctorate in engineering, had not been convicted by any competent court, thereby not being wanted by the EFCC or other government anti-graft agencies.
NAN
