“Maybe They’ve Withdrawn For Me”, Says PRP Candidate As Other Parties Shun Media Debate

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Chairmanship Candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, ( PRP), in the forthcoming Local government elections in Kaduna south LGA, Major Yahaya Shinko Ibrahim, Rtd, has said that candidates of other political parties that shun the media debate may have withdrawn from the race for him.

He wondered why anyone truly aspiring to lead the people will throw away a vital opportunity offered by the organizers, to meet and interface with the people they want to lead, for the electorates to buy into their manifestos.

Major, however assured the people, as the only candidate that attend the debate, to run an all incisive government, if elected, ensure prudence in resources accrued to the local government, prioritize women and youth empowerment, security among others.

He disclosed this to Journalists on Wednesday during the One Day median Media Debate for candidates of Kaduna South local government election, organized by the concerned citizens of  KSLG for good governance, under the leadership of Mr David Pama.

”  I thank the organizers, it’s historical, at least am able to express my manifesto to my stakeholders in Kaduna south local government, and at least they have seen what we have to offer to the people when elected, it’s a matter of a all inclusive government, by the grace and will of God we’re going to deliver, and with what we have seen, we  are as good as they have accepted our candidature” he said

Reacting on other political parties candidates that did not participate in the debate, he responded ” I thought they have withdrawn their candidature, not refusing to participate in the debate, that’s the perception I have,  maybe they are no longer interested in their candidature, so as you can see only PRP appeared,”

He further commended the organizers for the initiative and committed to democracy, ”  this is a group of stakeholders, people that you’ll want to meet and tell them please vote for me and they have given you the opportunity but you have refused to come so I don’t think they have decided not to come,  but maybe they have withdrawn for me,” he reiterated

Speaking on insecurity he said, it involves all levels of government, adding that unemployment is also factor that needs to be dealt with to engage the teaming youths, to also empower some of them to be self-employed, and identify some youths that usually cause problems in the community and engage them positively, while also advocating for community policing, among others.

The convener of the One Day Media Debate for KSLG Candidates, under the auspices of Concerned Citizens of  Kaduna South Local Government for Good Governance, Mr David Pama, said “‘we convene the program to partner with the candidates that are aspiring to lead us in the local government, that who eventually wins should be the peoples’ chairman, not political party chairman, he should be the chairman that will work with the stakeholders of the local government, when I say stakeholders, I mean every body that resides in local government

” so if he’s coming to lead us, we want to properly define democracy for what it says it is, so that’s why we organized the program and invited the candidates that are intending to be our leaders to come and see and tell us how the intend to lead, when they eventually get there, so that’s the purpose of this meeting”

When asked, why other party’s candidates did not honor the debate except the  PRP candidate,”  he said ” you may wish to find out why the failed to participate, ” because we sent to them invitation and I spoke to them personally, I  will employ you to find out from them, because invitation was extended to them, I spoke to some of them personally 

” and I ensure I gave the invitation through people that I believed will reach out to them” ( talking about the APC, PDP, LP and amongst others, he added ( I ensured that I reached out to them I don’t know why they are not here, I also spoke to some officials of IPAC, that they also need to be here, that,  maybe via them we can get all the candidates to attend this debate” he stressed.

Pama, further pointed out the essence of the debate, saying ” why we are organized debate we want them to come and tell us, to let the people elect leaders that will lead them well, and we want the stakeholders to take decision who should be their leaders in the local government, not via vote buying, not given us” spaghetti and tarliya”

He advocated for a violent-free credible election ”  we don’t want violence during and after the election process and anybody that wins should be given and we don’t have any party at heart or in mind, adding that it’s not about party, but the candidate.”

While calling for citizens and voters consciousness to make it said’  go and check anywhere you see nations moving forward people came together, and say come on, these things must work, so it’s not enough allowing these people come and decide who gets there, while we stand by the side and look, just complaining, grumble and murmur; we are stakeholders, we’re the one casting the votes, if we don’t decide now who should lead us, anybody can get there 

” And we don’t need a leader that will be answerable to his political party, we want one that will  be answerable to the people; power should shift to the people and I think that is the essence of democracy , 

Responding on the implication of  other political parties’ candidates not  honoring and participating in the debates simply means ” they are simply telling us that they are not for the people, if the want the people to vote for them and they didn’t come to tell the people what to do for people when they win, it means they are not for the people so that’s our stand and take, I’m a bit disappointed that they didn’t turn up, this is just telling us that they are not for us, if they were to be for us they will have come,  he added.

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A participant at the event, Mr  Rachel Joseph, describing the initiative, said ” I feel excited on this one day event for  all candidates of Kaduna south local government elections, the candidate of the PRP spoke wisely to the benefit of the masses and we believe  and also pray for him that, let what he said today be fulfilled to the benefit of the people, when elected”

She said others that shun the debate did not really bother the PRP candidate , of all of the candidates in different parties ” he deemed it fit that is he’s the only one that attended,  we are really happy that he proved himself that he’s really going to work for the masses and he was calm and all the questions that was thrown at him he answered them well, “

While calling for a large turn out during the election, saying ”  but had it been that all aspirants attended today, I would have been so much happy and the election that is coming by the special grace of God by the 19th of October, 2024, we pray that the good Lord will chose the right person to rule Kaduna south local government area” she added