By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the late former Governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, has declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat to represent, Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency.
The former Media Aide to the ex-Governor, popularly called ‘Chief Press’ because of his closeness to journalists, promised to bring governance to the grassroots level if given the mandate. He is contesting on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing a crowd of supporters at the Lapai Local Government Area party secretariat, Mahmud told his supporters that he will not betray them but ensure that he lived up to his electioneering campaign promises.
In the parliament, the former CPS said what is needed is techniques to lobby and as well pressure to get things done for your people as better representation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. He, therefore, solicited the support and prayers of all, including his constituency, the media.
As a rural person who is not unaware of the problems of especially the rural dwellers, Mahmud promised to do everything humanly possible to change the political narratives of the area if given the opportunity to represent them at the Lower Chamber of National Assembly.
In an interview shortly after, the former Commissioner of Information, Culture, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, said the 2023 election will surely be different because democracy is advancing hence the need for the electorates to vote for better candidates who will work for them.
Vatsa said the electorates have learned their lessons from past mistakes of voting for incompetent persons who went to the National Assembly to represent some few individuals and groups to the detriment of the general masses and therefore called for restraints.
Describing Mahmud Abdullahi as a man of the people who always emphasize how to improve the quality of living of the rural dwellers, Vatsa encouraged the people of the area to give him the opportunity to prove his worth.
Also speaking, the chairman, of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council, Comrade Abu Nmodu, said that the aspirant is fully aware of the dynamics of the National Assembly, especially the lower chamber, and therefore should be given the mandate to serve.
The APC Chairman in the area, Alhaji Usman Ndagi Achitukpa, had earlier in his remarks, told the people that Mahmud is a well-known person who had served the state meritoriously and was never found wanting, and therefore deserved their support for the seat. NNL.
