The Governor of Jigawa State who doubles as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Strategy and Contact Committee, Badaru Abubakar, has stated that the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot win the next presidential election and assured that more people will leave the PDP to join APC.
This statement was made by the state governor, Badaru when he featured on Channels Television programme Politics Today .
“I don’t see the gearing up of PDP to take power, even last week we had the former governor of Ogun state Gbenga Daniel who happens to be the DG Campaign for Atiku in 2019 elections that joined us.
“People are leaving PDP to join the APC. The honesty and sincerity of purpose will help us retain power in 2023.”
He however declined to comment on whether power should shift to the South in 2023.
“I am in the strategy committee that will look into this issue, at this point if you have asked me about this one month ago; I would have told you my positon.
“As the chairman of the strategy committee I cannot say my own personal view…I don’t want to preempt what will come from the committee.
Speaking on why Buhari is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria since independence as a leader, he said: “Certainly I agree, given the circumstances we have now, I believe 100 percent, Buhari is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria since independence;
“I am a state governor, I know what I inherited, I know the trouble I go through, I know one time I wanted to leave … really without the support of President Buhari we couldn’t have raised our head up as governors.”
He noted Buhari provided bailouts to all the states with 18-month support to pay salaries, and ensured payment of Paris-club money for infrastructure.
Badaru also noted the herders-farmers clashes persisted because of the neglect of the past governments
He added that banditry and kidnapping did not start with Buhari’s administration “but it just continued.”