Steer Clear Of Money Politics, Ex-Gov Tells Nigerians

Former Sokoto State governor, Dr. Garba Nadama has urged Nigerians to steer clear of money politics to ensure a credible, free, fair and acceptable 2011 elections.

Nadama spoke in Sokoto at a one day forum on ensuring 2011 credible elections organised by the Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance.

“For the 2011 polls to be credible, we must all guard against selling our conscience by collecting money before electing any candidate.

“ Any candidate you cast your vote for after collecting his or her money will regard that as an investment which he will recoup before executing any development project,” Nadama said.

He advised that Nigerians should emulate countries that conducted elections that were adjudged to be averagely free and fair.

In another development, the leadership and members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Kebbi  have decamped to the newly registered Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).             

Chairman of the ANPP, Alhaji Musa Danmaliki told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently that the decision to decamp was sequel to the failure of the ANPP leadership at the national level.

“We held wide ranging consultations before taking the decision to move to CPC,” he said.

He said the decision of the ANPP to be part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) was arbitrary,” and due to the selfish interests of the leadership at the national level.

“Our decision to decamp to CPC was not arbitrary and all segments of the followers were convinced and supported the movement to a new and hopeful party,” he said.

Danmaliki said the CPC would contest in the forthcoming local government elections.

He said the ANPP had failed to show support for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who lost the 2007 election, stressing that his quest to seek legal redress over the 2007 election was not supported by the ANPP national leadership.

According to him, the PDP leadership had failed to salvage the country economically while hardship faced by people had not abated.

He added that “but with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as CPC candidate there was hope of redemption.

“We are convinced that the credentials of Buhari and with our support the CPC would usher in hope and improvement of the living conditions of the people and revive the economy,” he said.

A cross section of members of the ANPP said the change to CPC was unconditional and accepted based on the credentials and hope for a change from the leadership.

Posters of Buhari and the flags of CPC already adorned the secretariat of the former ANPP.