By Chuks Ehirim
One of the major political parties involved in the merger bid that is likely to produce the All Progressive Congress[APC],the Congress for Progressive Change[CPC]M has signified its intention to play a key role in the forth coming elections into the six Area Councils within the
Federal Capital Territory[FCT], Abuja ,scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 16, 2013, with a colorful ceremony to flag off its campaigns in this regard.
The programme held at the Abuja Old Parade Ground on Saturday, February 9,saw in attendance, many of the party’s big wigs including its National and FCT officers who presented the party flags to Five Chairmanship candidates who are the torch bearers for the Five Area councils in the forthcoming election.
The five candidates were Abdullahi Adamu, [fondly called Candido by his admirers] who is running for the Chairmanship seat of Abuja Municipal Area Council[AMAC] ,Musa Diko of Bwari Area Council , Mallam Yahaya Ibrahim of Gwagwalada Area Council ,Alhaji Jubril Zubairu of Kwali Area council and Bala Usman of Kuje Area council . The party did not field any chairmanship candidate in Abaji Area council as the it is said to be in an alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN].
Presenting the party flag to the candidates, National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Prince Tony momoh, charged the candidates to canvass for votes and strive to win their Area councils ,adding that the party has been repositioned to win.
Prince Momoh also asked them to ensure that their votes count, urging them not to leave the polling boot after voting.
Speaking at the occasion also, the party’s Deputy National Chairman , Alhaji Muatapha Saliu, admonished the party faithful not to sell their votes but to vote according to their conscience. He equally urged the members to come out emess to vote for CPC candidates, while appealing to them to shun violence and electoral malpractices.
In his opening speech ,FCT Chapter chairman of the party, Alhaji Isa Rahra Saudu, said the candidates were elected and screened after a rigorous party primaries and expressed the hope that they will emerge victorious in the election. He urged them to be good ambassadors of the party and channel their efforts and resources in winning the councils for the party.
In their chat with journalists at the occasion, some of the Chairmanship candidates reeled out what polices and programmes they intend to pursue if voted into office. The AMAC Chairmanship candidate,Adamu, said he would ensure that those living outside the city centre are provided the basic necessities of live such as good roads, electricity supply, clean water, schools, hospitals etc.
He condemned a situation where many communities in the council areas have remained in darkness because of unavailability of electricity transformers. ”Those communities that have remained in darkness all these years because of the uncaring attitude of those at the helm of affairs, will certainly heave a sigh of relief when we come into office. It is unacceptable
that AMAC,the number one area council in the whole of the country, will have part of it being in darkness because transformers are not provided for them. It is a shame and we shall put an end to it”, he said. He also promised to take a look at the issue of scholarship for school children, with a view to raising the figure that is currently being paid.
For Usman who is contesting in Kuje Area Council, his priority will be in addressing the needs of the rural areas which have been completely left unattended to, by the council government in the last six years. “Kuje is the least developed of the six area councils in the FCT today. In the last six years, those at the helm of affairs have gone to sleep, leaving the residents without any responsible leadership. Even Kuje town has no motorable roads. The rural areas have no electricity, no good schools, no medical facilities, no clean water, the roads are the worst anybody can think of. Our task is to address all these and more. We are coming for rescue operation so that our people will no longer suffer for another three years”, he said.