Sokoto governorship race: Wamakko assures of President's support

Ahead of the Sokoto governorship primaries of the People's Democratic Party, coming up on December 17, 2011, incumbent governor, Aliyu Wamakko says he has been assured of President Goodluck Jonathan's support.

Speaking at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja, where he had gone to submit his nomination forms for the party primaries on Thursday, he waved aside concerns that he may lose the party ticket to another member of the party, and stressed that he believes he has nothing to worry about as the party is firmly behind him.

Contrary to reports that President Goodluck Jonathan is plotting to edge him out of the elections, Wamakko said "The President is my very good friend. I and he were together for six years before he became governor of Bayelsa State. And when he became vice president, I also became governor. Even last week, the President called me, saying, 'governor, all what you have been hearing is rubbish. I'm not with anybody in Sokoto to come and fight you,'" adding that he is not threatened by the entrance of Sports Minister Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Gada into the race for PDP's ticket.

"I'm not going to speak about Gada because he is not worth being spoken about." He said when asked to speak about his entrance into the race, adding, "We are in a democracy. Even you (journalists) can pick forms. It doesn't have to be a minister. Anybody can pick forms if he so wishes. It's a normal process."

Commenting on the allegations of anti-party activities against him by some party members who accused him of supporting the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Zamfara State in the last general elections, Wamakko said: "I hope you will look at the record and judge by yourself. We are the only state in Nigeria that is 100 per cent for PDP. In Sokoto, no single court case after the elections because we believe in peace, transparency and good governance.

"I told you earlier, we have weak politicians who believe in getting power through blackmail, intimidation and name dropping....But in Nigeria, people go into politics without preparedness to abide by the rules of politics. If you want to serve your people, you don't need to blackmail. It is basically supposed to be politicking."

Source