March 2011 Update on Kaduna North Senatorial Bid

[Salihu Moh. Lukman]

Victory is Certain!

 

It is now less than four weeks to the elections and we are very ready and confident of victory. We are proud of our achievements in the field but very nervous about the expectations we have generated. We have inspired the people to believe that change is possible. Throughout the campaigns, we have demonstrated that knowledge is important in shaping our vision of the future, maturity and orderliness is critical in achieving results and above all participation of everyone is fundamental to ensuring that we are able to put in place a strong foundation for service delivery both during the campaigns and after.

 

As the candidate, I am humbled by the support we have generated. In the last one month, we have generated very high demands especially around issues of education. This is largely because we have resisted relating with our youths based on the conventional approach of politicians of employing them as thugs whose business is not more that pasting posters and removing opponents’ posters. Our approach is to look at how to support the education of our youths. Even then, we don’t give money directly to them; we go to the schools and pay their exams and school fees. In the process, we have so far paid NECO fees for more 100 youths, paid tuition fees for more than 30 indigent tertiary students and Purchased JAMB forms for more than 50 students, all across the 8 local governments in the constituency.

 

We are today constantly faced with increasing demands from our youths and their parents. Many of them who have benefitted have on their own formed support structures and are facilitating door-to-door campaigns in many communities in the constituency.

 

I must however admit that there is certainly the challenge of reforming many of our youths who are lost in the business of thuggery. We must develop the capacity to engage them and reform them. We need good ideas in this respect.

 

We have successfully concluded the football competition and Zaria Standard won the final which was play against Saminaka Greater Academy on Sunday, March 6 at Babban Dodo, Zaria City. Interestingly, on the same day Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi fix the final of his football competition in Tudun Wada, Zaria as a strategy to divert spectators. His competition actually held about three years ago but the he did not release money for the final to be played. Unfortunately for him, the final held but ended in commotion.

 

Our women have been a major focus of our campaign services. We have continued to provide support to our women by way of provision of sewing and knitting machines. In addition, we support many women Islamiya schools with mats and other requirements. We have also continued to provide scholarships to orphans.

 

Sadly, as I am writing this update, I received the shocking report that a sick women who has approached us for support last night to be able to go to hospital, died this morning before going to hospital. Her people couldn’t get her to hospital in the night because of lack means. Unfortunately, because of our policy of not giving money directly to people, we asked them to wait till this morning so that we go with them. Sadly, before we could get to her in the morning today (March 10, 2011), she passed away. May Almighty Allah grant her eternal rest and We pray that He forgive our inadequacies.

 

The International Women Day, March 8 was another landmark in our campaign activities. A women rally held in Ikara and women from all the 8 Local Governments attended. They were led by the ACN National Women Leader, Haj. Hafsat Baba. More than 1,000 women attended. The important thing was that it was very orderly and a local musician provided the tonic for the celebrations apart from the speeches. For many of the women participants, this is the first time they are getting to know that a day exists as the International Women Day.

 

Today, there is no doubt that we have impacted on the politics of the area and our opponents, especially PDP, are jittery about our achievements. Information available to us indicates that they have conceded that the only option they have is to use money and buy votes. We wish them good luck. There is also information to the effect that they want to buy off voters cards in areas where they are weak and destroy them. Again, we are responding appropriately.

 

Since July 2010, when we joined the race, we have been able to visit almost all the communities. In the next two weeks, we intend to make a final campaign visits to all these communities, just before the elections. As it stands today, we are confident of victory in all the 8 Local Governments, including Makarfi.

 

The only big drawback in the campaigns so far is our inability to implement the Town Hall Meetings in the 8 Local Governments as planned. We have to cancel them at the last minute because of two challenges. The first was the amount of money required which was between N5 – N6 million. Although, we were able to raise part of it and we could scale things down based on our capacity, we could not proceed because of the lack of appropriate venue in our Local Governments that could accommodate as much as 1,000 people as well as also guarantee security.

 

As it is today, I can say, we are READY for the elections and in terms of votes, there can only be one result – WE ARE THE WINNERS!

 

I consider myself very privilege to have been blessed with endearing family, friends and associates. My politics is now vehicle for love. Family, childhood friends, relatives, etc. are all united in this vehicle. I am very proud about this.

 

So far, we have expended close to N30 million in the campaign. This is passing our N30 million target already which is as a result of the very high demand for support we generated in the course of our campaigns especially towards supporting the education of young people. I want to thank everyone that has contributed. I do hope that you will support us to tackle the last assignment which is the elections. Kindly channel contributions to: account name – Salihu M. Lukman: Bank PHB 1011484448.

 

 

Salihu Mohammed Lukman

Senatorial Candidate, Kaduna North