The Igbo community in Kaduna State has declared support for the state governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The leadership of the various Igbo community in the state said the decision was borne out of the governorship candidate’s track record, competence, truthfulness and determination to run an inclusive government if elected.
The President-General of the Igbo community in the state, Chief Francis Uchenna, while addressing Igbo leaders from across the 23 Local Government Areas in the state said what the Igbo community needed was an enabling environment for business which he noted Hunkuyi was capable to do if elected governor of the state.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the community, Vincent Anagwonye, noted that “Senator Hunkuyi understands the complexity of the state. I have worked with him in the past and he is the man of his word.”
“We are going to vote for him because of his qualities – competence, truthfulness and his ability, wiliness and determination to carry everyone along irrespective of age, tribe, language, religion and social class,” he added.
In his address to the gathering, the governorship candidate reiterated his promise to run an inclusive government and review several policies of the outgoing state governor, Nasir El-Rufai with the view to revising the ones tagged as anti-people.
Hunkuyi said he would revisit the issue of over 36,000 shops and business places demolished by the present government in Kaduna State.
“We believe in cooperation and unity. No one can put up a building with one hand. I hardly make a promise about what is not in my hand but I assure you there will be a special adviser from the Ibo community if we win this election.
“Our windows and doors are open. This is the beginning of the inclusive government,” he said.
Hunkuyi said any government that does not listen to the people in respect of their yearnings and aspirations is not a responsive government.
At the gathering were leaders of the Igbo community headed by its President-General, Chief Francis Uchenna, and the Vice Presidents for each state in the South East – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
Others who were also in attendance include the President of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states as well as Local Government chairmen for each of the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
All the chairmen of the various trade unions such as Auto Mobile Parts, Building Materials, etc were also in attendance.
Also, the Association of People Living With Disabilities otherwise known as people with special needs or physically challenged persons had organised inter-religious prayer sessions for the governorship candidate for him to emerge as the next governor of the state.
The state leader of PWDs, Comrade Muntari Saleh said, “Because we see Hunkuyi as a man of integrity and good leadership qualities who does not discriminate against anyone, whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, whether you are big or small, whether you are among the privileged people or less privileged.”
“We have done a thorough assessment and evaluation and discovered that Senator Hunkuyi stands out above others in the race in terms of character, competence, and compassion for the people, hence our support for him. He has promised an inclusive government and a special status for the PWDs.”
