Voting for Obi is not a wasted vote – Abdulsalam
Gombe State Labour Party Chairman Sani Abdulsalam, in this interview with Chima Azubuike, shares what distinguishes the party from the others, possibility of forming government in Gombe State and Nigeria.
Can you introduce yourself? My name is Sani Abdulsalam, Chairman of Labour Party Gombe and Chairman of Chairman’s Forum of Labour Party of Nigeria.
As chairman of conference of Labour Party chairmen across 36 states what have been the challenges? We have some challenges, one of which include paucity of funds and we are not yet in power, unlike APC, PDP using Nigeria’s money in their campaign. We tell the people that our candidate is credible, we know the electorates are not seeing money as a problem they are looking at who will rescue Nigeria.
What are the chances of Labour Party in Gombe State? My party has over 75 – 80 percent chances in Gombe State. This is following the level of mobilisation and efforts that members have put in place in Gombe State to have a successful showing come 2023 elections. For instance the chapter has been campaigning vigorously on the reasons why a vote for Peter Obi will not be a wasted vote. Our people are very much aware that the Northern politicians have disappointed them especially the youths since Saudauna, the others have been campaigning about the same thing about Water, Road, Education and we are yet to see that come to manifestation that is why we are confident about the need to try another person. So all these and more are reasons why we have over 75- 80 percent support which is key to winning.
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That is the Presidential aspect, will you say the same about your Gubernatorial candidate in Gombe State?
It is very easy for Keftin Amuga to win election in Gombe State, because we 11 Local Government Areas, out of which we have Billiri, Kaltungo, Balanga and Shongom representing Gombe South Tangale-Waja and the remaining seven in for Gombe North and Central. Our candidate is coming from Tangale-Waja, Amuga is popular and a good person before even talking about his exploits as a knowledgeable politician. It will interest you to note that his people of Tangale-Waja likes his politics which is unblemished, without stains, it will interest you to note that there other three candidates in PDP, APC and NNPP representing Gombe North, Labour candidate will share votes with them. So, if we win in the four Local Governments constituting Gombe South, the seven LGA’s we have 100 percent hope that we will make over 40 percent of the total vote cast in the seven LGA’s. Politically, the one with entire vote cast in four Local Government Areas and still split seizable votes in seven other LGA’s has won the poll.
How did Amuga emerge?
The process was transparent, I sat down to calculate his chances before the party under my chairmanship in Gombe considered him as flagbearer. The Tangale-Waja people we expect they will reciprocate the measure of support given to them because this is the first time Gombe South is considered to be Governorship candidate of a viable party, they are always made to present Deputy Governor but Labour Party has changed it already by looking through to see that they produce the next governor of the state.
The issue of structure is one that can’t be laid to rest when discussing Labour Party, how do you hope to defeat incumbent APC and PDP with over 16 years of dominance? The question of structure should no longer arise because our party is structured in a way that the father is the structure, mother is the structure and the children represents our structure. In our party logo it is visibly clear that we are people oriented, we have structure around family and community ties. Other parties that they claim have structure are merely broom, or umbrella but because we believe in structure the family, workers represent Labour Party structure. We have ward chairmen, local government chairmen, and across polling units the party accounts for about three persons and during election they will advance the course of the party. A husband without wife is not complete, so is a wife without husband, as well as without children its not complete. I can safely tell you that there is no house in Nigeria without the structure of Labour Party whether you are in APC, PDP, you have my party’s structure in your house. We are everywhere in Gombe, Nigeria.
What do you tell your supporters whom are daily reminded that a vote for Labour is wasting their franchise?
We in Labour Party we believe in solving problems with strategies. If some people say you are wasting your vote, don’t mind them. If you waste your vote, I waste my vote, my wife wastes hers, my neighbours waste theirs we will win election. They are using the word waste your vote because they want to discourage you from casting your ballot for your preferred candidate.
What’s the difference between labour party and the others, many claim politicians are the same with same interest, how true?
It’s not true, Labour Party is different and the rest of the politicians hate our candidate Peter Obi because we are different. They also know the difference, as they pontificate on what they intend to do our party is already issuing solutions to the issues. They (politicians) have come with the ambition to lift Nigeria’s money but Peter Obi has come to work for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Can you say the same for your candidate in Gombe State? Keftin Amuga is capable, ready to serve the people day and night. Go and check who the man is, across many homes in Tangale-Waja, Amuga has sponsored alot of persons, given alot of children hope in Gombe State. He is not tribalistic, not sentimental when it comes to religion. People from Tangale-Waja, came to me to ask that we give Amuga the Ticket, and immediately we went to investigate who Amuga is and discovered that the people indeed were correct before I didn’t know him.
Unemployment soars following increasing population and embargo on employment following the economy, what is the way forward?
Labour Party from the national level to state we have factored the youth. We have also identified issues of electricity, security once they are tackled industries will spring up, the ones existing will perform optimally and the economy will improve. We don’t believe Nigerian youths are lazy, we will empower the youths, Nigeria is abundantly blessed with sufficient human and natural resources. I once discussed with a Chinese man in Dubai, he asked me about the poorest state in Nigeria I told him Zamfara State. He told me that Zamfara’s resources can feed Nigeria for 60 – 70 years and no one will suffer.
Many political watchers in the state may not agree with you that Amuga has got the political clout to dislodge the incumbent? That’s not a correct assessment of our candidate, our ward, local government chairmen having being working assiduously to pull the political clout for Amuga, across Gombe North and Central. We have seen the places that the Inuwa Yahaya government did something good, likewise where we felt they failed and that Labour Party can improve upon. We do justice, we can’t do injustice. Past governors from Hashidu to the current administration they have done some things very well and some others not very good. Let me assure Gombe people that Labour Party will do things right more than any government you have had.
How true is that Labour Party is not a serious contender in Gombe politics and may sell out in due time?
We are very serious and deliberate. I assure that we will win gubernatorial and presidential elections 100 percent. Settlement with who, it is impossible, it will never happen. We in Labour Party we have ambition anyone with vision will not have to sell out, we are the heroes and I assure you we will win the election. We have 100 percent believe that we will win gubernatorial and presidential elections in Gombe. We are not satisfied with the way and manner things are done, the people are not comfortable that is why we brought Keftin Amuga to run for the seat with so much hope of winning the seat of governor in Gombe.
What strategies do you hope to employ? That’s our secret, we can’t tell people of our strategies aside doing our underground campaigns now but I assure you we have mapped out ways of appealing to electorates to get their votes.
Labour Party posters, bill boards are no where in the metropolis, why is that? Gombe is big, there are people that promised to give us posters and exercise books, very soon we will go to both primary and secondary schools to give them the exercise books. We are also working on our banners very soon you will see our posters and banners everywhere in Gombe State.
How will Labour Party fight against vote buying since it the new normer?
We will inform, Police, and INEC about the shady activities of agents of those parties and we expect that they will be arrested. We will put an end to vote buying because its injustice to self, state. Remember, that the people are tired of this government, so whether they give money to the people, they will do their wish, they won’t vote for them
Ekiti and Osun states election came and passed without Labour Party winning any, were you disappointed?
There was no need to be disappointed because our candidates tried. In election it either you win or lose, Also INEC officials did their best, it a pity vote buying played key roles in candidates emergence.
What do you think about Muslim-Muslim ticket? Nigeria’s constitution is not a Muslim or Christian constitution rather it a constitution for Nigerian people. Whether a person is a Christian or Muslim, Nigerians should be after credibility. Nigeria doesn’t belong to Muslims neither does it belong to Christians. For instance my I’m Abdulsalam, I’m a Muslim but my candidate is Peter Obi, a Christian. This is because I know he is credible, yes, from Igboland but he is credible. If you put Christian/Christian ticket if they are good we should vote them, likewise if the Muslim/Muslim ticket is good they should be voted for. If you rule people from same faith people may enjoy but you can’t rule with injustice and see people enjoy. If you go to the national assembly you will see they are Muslims, Christians but they seat to together to share Nigeria’s money nobody remembers religion.
Advice to Gombe electorates?
Don’t allow anyone that gives you money to win, because it a sign of things to come. Collection of noodles, soap, should not be a determinant to voting, instead vote because he can perform. Don’t vote because of religion, ethnicity, but vote because of credibility. I expect that our people will vote Obi, Amuga because they are credible. It will interest you to know that from House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate they are all credible. I assure Gombe people, Nigerians that if they vote Peter Obi, Keftin Amuga they will not regret it.
