PDP IS FINISHED IN ZAMFARA-LIMAN, GOV'S AIDE

Kabiru Sahabi Liman is Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planing, Zamfara State, and a former member of the state House of Assembly. In this interview, he said with the recent court verdict that upheld the election of Governor Abdulaziz Yari, the era of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state is over. Excerpts:

Governor Abdulaziz Yari
Abdulaziz Yari is a gentleman with vision and mission of transformations. Something keeps telling me that he has people in mind. One interesting thing about him is when he speaks, you can quote him. He does not double speak. When God gave him the mantle of leadership, his desire to transform the state was too glaringly. He has the zeal and love for the state to progress. He wants to see that the state meets with other states in terms of rapid transformation. The first 100 days of his administration was remarkable. The people are begining to marvel about his achievements.

ANPP in the eyes of the people
I do not think anybody that has the love of the party and the state at heart would say the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) is not strong. It was true during our campaign there was intense struggle and high politicking in the party. ANPP has been the ruling party for eight years. The defection of former governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi to PDP did not shake us even for one day. ANPP members passed through vigorous test before the last April general elections that saw Yari as governor.

PDP has no chance in Zamfara State
The era of PDP in Zamfara politics is over. More than 90 per cent of the electorate in the state are members of ANPP. We knew how the election was won and we would build on that and evolve strategies to better the lives of our teeming supporters. Apart from that, the governor has promised to transform the state. People have started seen development. There is no vacancy in Zamfara Government House. Yari is the people's choice and our choice for the betterment of the state. God has choosen him for us.

Court verdict upholding Yari's election
With the recent verdict, it has vindicated the judiciary. It also proved that there is rule of law in this country. Before the ruling, some thought the governor was going to lose his seat. But we were confident that victory would be ours. We have capable and competent lawyers, we trusted them and they gave us the assurance that victory would be ours. We beat them in this round, Insha Allah, we will beat them again.

Appeal Court
No shaking at all, nothing will change. It would remain by the power of God whom we trust and believe. The mistake of the PDP is that they are looking at the whole thing from political point of view. I am appealing to them to accept the wish of Allah. Allah gives power to who ever He likes at the time He wants it. Let them understand that this is the governors time and no person on earth can change the wish of God.

The governor and his party are both for the winners and the losers. To build the state is a collective responsibility. Nobody from outside will do it for us. I want to appeal to aggrieved members to join hands with us in building the state. We want to make the state strong both socially and economically. We can only suceed if we are united and support one another.