The Gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Umar Nasko has congratulated the winner of the Governorship election in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello popularly called Abu Lolo on his emergence as the Governor of Niger state.
He said that the people of the state have decided and he has submitted to the decision of the people who have chosed his co-contestant and brother, Bello to lead them adding that he believes the Governor-elect has the interest of the state at heart.
Nasko who congratulated Bello after INEC had announced him as the winner of the gubernatorial polls held on Saturday said that though his aspiration was borne out of a fervent desire to move the state to the next level of development following a robust foundation that has being laid by the previous democratic dispensation, he will not despair as he would continue to contribute his quota even outside government.
According to him, “Over the past six months I have gone round the nooks and crannies of our dear state, seeking the mandate of our people to lead as Governor of the state, my aspiration was borne out of a fervent desire to move our state to the next level of development following a robust foundation that have being laid by the previous democratic dispensations. I have worked tirelessly and timelessly too! For these, I will not despair, I will continue to do this even outside government.
“For now, the people of our dear state have decided and I submit to their decision which though not in my favor but for my co- contestant and brother Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the All progressive congress (APC), for I believe he has the interest of the state just like me, at heart.
“My hearty congratulations to him and his team for the success recorded, I urge him to always put the interest of the people and the state first above all.”
Earlier,the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello as the winner of the Niger State governorship election.
The Niger state Returning Officer, Prof. Abdulganiyu Hambali who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin made this announcement on Tuesday morning in Minna after collating the election results for the 25 local government areas in the state.
He said that the APC candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, won with a total votes of 593, 702 While PDP candidate, Alhaji Umar Nasko scored 239, 772 votes and Alhaji Yakubu Umar of the ADC scored 2, 144.
“Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC having certified the requirements of the law and scoring the highest votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the governorship election held April 11, 2015,” Hambali said.
However, the Governor-elect of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has pledged to harness the abundant human and natural resources of the state to ensure the state’s economic independence from the monthly Federation Account Allocation.
He also asked Nigerlites to be realistic in their expectations of the government stating that the gravity of the national austerity occasioned by the global collapse in the price of crude oil is having direct impact on the state revenue.
“Niger state cannot afford to continue to rely on allocation from the Federal Account and related sources for up to 80 per cent of its income. The priority of my administration is to pursue a deliberate strategic direction which is aimed at harnessing the abundant human and natural resources of the state, to ensure its economic independence from the monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation and its prosperity into the future. All Nigerlites will be part and parcel of our decision making process.
“We pledge to begin doing our best without delay. We wish to appeal to all Nigerlites to appreciate the gravity of the national austerity occasioned by the global collapse in the price of crude oil. This is having a direct impact on the state revenue. We need to become realistic in our expectations. This is your government and it will soon be fully at your service”, Bello said.
