The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Sokoto State, Sen. Abdallah Wali, has pledged to use agriculture as a tool for poverty alleviation if elected in 2015.

Wali gave the pledge while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto. He said: “We will use agriculture to reverse the trend of regarding Sokoto state as one of the poorest states in Nigeria.

“We have one of the biggest dams in Nigeria, the Goronyo dam, and we will use it to improve the fortunes of the people of the state,” he said.

Wali also disclosed that water from the dam would be channelled to various irrigation sites across the state, to enhance irrigation.

He said this would tremendously improve the socio-economic status of the people and enhance revenue to government.

Wali further announced that his administration would focus on education and moral rejuvenation of the youth. “This will be done through our youths and women empowerment programmes, as well as other packages for the improvement of the general welfare of the people of the state.

“ Excellence will be pursued in all sectors of the economy and make Sokoto state a model,” Wali said.

On the chances of PDP winning the governorship seat, the former Nigeria’s Envoy to Morocco said it was “very bright.”

According to him, the PDP in the state is “intact, alive and kicking” and will upset the APC.

He urged the three aspirants that lost to him in the primaries to join him and ensure the success of the PDP at all levels in the 2015 general election.

Wali also dismissed fears that the election of Aminu Tambuwal as APC candidate would upset the PDP.

“The emergence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state is not in any way an upset to the PDP.

” We believe that we have an edge over the APC and we will go ahead to fight it,” he said.