Salihu Yakasai, Kano State governorship candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), declared that his party could win elections in the state, even with the presence of big parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Yakasai made the declaration at a media dialogue organised by the state correspondent chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday in Kano.

“I am not afraid of the big parties, rather, they are afraid of us,” the governorship candidate said, noting that he was confident of victory based on the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of the elections.

“We are also happy because of the Electoral Act. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for signing it into law. Now, it will be difficult to rig elections in Nigeria.

“I am assuring the people that they will surely get what they vote for. If they vote for me, they will get me as their governor. If they vote for another person, that is surely what they will get,” he said.

He said if given the opportunity, he would put the state on a prosperous projector to ensure rapid development.

Mr Yakasai said his blueprint, known as vision 2033, will make Kano the centre for commercial excellence in West Africa.

The PRP governorship candidate said the blueprint mainly focused on boosting the state economy through Public Private Partnership (PPP) for infrastructure development.

Mr Yakasai said his decision to contest was borne out of his commitment and desire to place the state on the path of prosperity.

“In 2023, Kano needs a vibrant, young and visionary leader, one who does not see any boundaries when it comes to the heights we can attain,” he said.

The governorship aspirant added that his administration would concentrate on primary education and build more primary healthcare centres in the 484 wards of the state.

Mr Yakasai, a former media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said industrialisation, agriculture, security, boosting internally generated revenue, and youth and women empowerment would also be his focus.

The governorship candidate also promised to offset arrears of pension owed to pensioners and promote the welfare of workers through general reforms of the public sector, including the judiciary.

(NAN)