A former manager of Dangote Flour, Shuaibu Mikati, on Wednesday declared his intention to vie for the Kaduna governorship position in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Mikati contested for the office in 2007 and 2011, but lost at at the primaries.
According to him, his vast experience in private sector and wide contacts in business will make him a better candidate to fly the party’s flag next year.
Mr Mikati said he has ideas to transform Kaduna state for better development.
He made the comment when he submitted his letter of intent on Wednesday at the PDP state secretariat.
The aspirant urged the party leadership in the state to ensure that a credible candidate is produced to defeat the incumbent, Nasir El’rufai.
“I want to contest for Kaduna state governorship election under PDP in 2019. I joined PDP in year 2000 and since I have never thought and will never think of leaving the party,” he said.
“I was invited to contest for Senate under CPC but I said I’m not into politics because of money. I’m not looking for name, I’m not rich but I have means of looking for money so I’m not looking for money.
“I believe I have goodwill to move Kaduna to greater heights. If you give me the ticket, we are set to move the state forward and we would give the party leadership opportunity to make input into governance even the youth will have their chance because we don’t know it all.”
Mr Mikati joined Dangote Group PLC in 2002 as Group General Manager, Human Resources, Administration, Corporate Affairs and Environment.
He served as Group Treasurer and later Executive Director, Sales and Marketing (flour). Subsequently, he became Deputy Managing Director of Dangote Flour and disengaged from Dangote Group in December 2010 to join politics.
He advised the state leadership of the party on ways to wrestle power from All Progressive Congress.
“As we plan to regain power, we should put our house in order because APC has power of incumbency and there is the Buhari’s factor.
“We should look deep down and see who PDP can present that will match the incumbent in terms of knowledge, intelligence, ability and performance.
“We are not in power, if we spend our energy on primaries and became exhausted during the general elections, it won’t be best. Let’s employ wisdom and savy to recapture power in Kaduna state because if we miss it again, we would be in soup,” he said.
The aspirant also donated two vehicles to the party for its campaign operation.
In his remarks, PDP state chairman, Felix Hyet, expressed appreciation to Mr Mikati for donating the two vehicles to the party for campaign.
He described Mr Mikati as a leader that does not move from one party to another to achieve their aims.
“Our campaigns should be issued based because we have a government that lacks focus, that is known for double standard. It is our responsibility to rise up and change this government and bring in people that knows what it means to lead the people,” Mr Hyet said.
So far about eight people have indicated interest to vie for the number one seat in the state under PDP, among them is former Governor Ramalan Yero.
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