Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday formally declared his interest to vie for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and unveiled a manifesto that was progressive conservative in outlook, a shade different from the promises made by his colleagues in the APC.

Key among his promises was to instil fiscal discipline if elected into office.
What appeared to be a sign of the possible understanding between two of the APC aspirants was also evident, as loyalists of former military Head of State, Major-General Muhamnadu Buhari (rtd), stormed Kwankwaso’s declaration rally yesterday in a show of solidarity.

Kwankwaso, who declared his interest at the old parade ground in Abuja, became the third aspirant to emerge on the platform of APC.
Addressing a large crowd of party supporters, Kwankwaso said he would give the country a functional economy with the active participation of the private sector and the collaboration of international partners and friends. The Kano governor, who sounded very much like a centre-right ideologue instead of a progressive politician, said part of his vision for Nigeria is to ensure that the country gradually achieves a capital to recurrent budget ratio of at least 70 per cent to 30 per cent within his first three years in office.

“In Kano State, we have one of the best records of fiscal discipline in the country. This has been acknowledged severally by reputable institutions and numerous credible professional bodies and civil society organisations, which have honoured the state at different occasions.

“This is our vision for Nigeria. Our plan for Nigeria is to gradually achieve a capital to recurrent budget ratio of at least 70 per cent to 30 per cent within our first three years in office. We will cut the cost of running government and eliminate all forms of wastages like we have done in Kano. It is possible. It is achievable," he said.

According to him, no country can have a functional economy without the active participation of the “private sector and the collaboration of our international partners and friends”. He explained that cutting the cost of business would be one of the instruments his administration must use to create a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors.

“Our import and export policies shall be re-examined to make business easier and less expensive. Several other issues that make private sector operations difficult and expensive will be reviewed.

“The gains achieved in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors will be improved upon. We cannot build a formidable economy without a sustainable energy source. Our country’s investments in power and the corresponding output is, to say the least, embarrassing. The independent power project we initiated in Kano State, which is expected to be completed in March 2015, will be generating 35MW of electricity," he said.

Kwankwaso, whose speech drew applause from the audience, said the strength of any economy depends on the quality, competence, fitness and morale of the available human resources that drive it.

According to the governor, Nigeria’s education and health sectors are faced with multi-throng crises of quality, quantity, infrastructure, equipment and brain drain.

“At the heart of these crises are policy and sincerity. We must remake our national education and health policies to provide for a sustainable lifeline of funding for these very critical sectors of our national life," he said.

Kwankwaso, who attacked the transformation policies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government as being a total disaster, said the key priority for the country is the killing of the cancer of corruption.

“The fiscal policy of the present administration is more than disastrous. Its micro and macroeconomic policies are as vacuous as they are deceptive. Budget performance is more than qualified to be in the Guinness’ Book of World Records of fiscal indiscipline and poor performance.

“How can we attain development when only a tiny percentage of our budget is allocated for capital projects and even that is not properly implemented? How can we grow when the wealth of the nation is being stolen by the very trustees of the wealth? Where on this planet do we have a nation so endowed and yet again so impoverished?

“That is why we must rally around and replace this present PDP government with a progressive and responsive APC administration under my stewardship,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the APC governors, Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi said having worked with his Kano State counterpart, he believed that Kwankwaso is a good man. According to him, the governors would stand by their position that they would back whoever among the presidential aspirants of the party emerges victorious at the convention.

Also addressing the rally, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said from what was happening within APC, the last two weeks showed that the party really has what it takes to take over governance in the country come 2015. He said there was every indication from the solidarity being shown amongst the aspirants and leaders of the APC that come the presidential convention, the party would emerge a united entity.

According to Yari, the party leadership has decided to create a level playing field for all of its aspirants to participate in the primaries without any rancour. But even as the Zamfara governor spoke of solidarity among the contestants, the campaign team of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent from the Kwankwaso rally, thus casting a question mark on the claim.

What was noticeable at yesterday’s rally was the presence of Buhari’s supporters, including those from among the party leadership comprising the National Vice-Chairman for North-east, Mr. B.D Lawal, Buhari’s Campaign Chief, Audu Ogbeh, as well as many members of the National Assembly. The presence confirmed speculations that the two aspirants from the North-west may be heading for a consensus arrangement ahead of the presidential convention of the APC.

Chairman of the rally, Prince Audu Abubakar, in his welcome address, said he was representing all the former governors, saying: “The difference is clear because Kwankwaso served in many capacities.” He said by 2015, the governor would be inaugurated president of Nigeria. Abubakar said Kwankwaso’s candidacy provided an opportunity for Nigerians to re-write the history of the country, adding that the Kano governor’s rich experience speaks loudly for itself.
Most of the speakers at the declaration made reference to Kwankwaso’s stewardship as governor of the largest state in the north by population.

Present at the declaration were Governors Amaechi, Yari, and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos). Others included former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, Adamawa gubernatorial candidate, Senator Bindo, former National Chairman of the PDP Kawu Baraje, Mai Bala Buni, National Women’s Leader, National Youth Leader, Dasuki Jalo Waziri, National Treasurer, Mohammed Bala, and former Minister of Mines and Steel, Senator Kabiru Gaya

The old parade ground was almost filled to capacity, as supporters of the Kano State governor thronged the place waving banners and beating drums.