Address by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, OFR at the Kaduna South Zonal Rally, Kafanchan, 04 February 2015

After several days of campaigning across Southern Kaduna, our overwhelming impression is one of gratitude to the good people of the zone. We have been encouraged and excited by the warmth of the reception we have been accorded everywhere, and the willingness of the people to embrace our message of change. On behalf of the APC Kaduna State Campaign Council, I say a heartfelt thank you to Zone 3. There is no doubt that we have a solid, state-wide constituency for change and Southern Kaduna has this week emphatically proven it.

Kaduna State needs change. We must reset the dynamics of governance.We will place at its core a commitment to fairness and the promotion of harmony amongst the diverse peoples of our state. We must build a Kaduna State that treats all of its residents as equal citizens. It is a fallacy that any one part of a community can sustainably progress by holding back or repressing the other. Our destiny is to work together to bring progress and development, to secure our communities and to empower people to make the best of their talents.

Our programme of change is clearly aimed at improving security, building human capital by focusing on education and healthcare, focusing on key infrastructure, including roads and water supply, jobs and a new industrial strategy.

We do not underestimate the challenges, but your votes will give us the mandate we need to make governance work for the people. You have rejected the lame arguments of those who have tried to divide us along ethnic or religious lines. Our people have clearly rejected that as the refuge of incompetent people with no record of performance. You have also seen through the deceit of people who only thought it fit to condole with you over the killings and insecurity as elections loomed.

Empathy cannot be commodified, it is not a feeling based on expectations of reward, electoral or otherwise. Rather it is an obligation of governance, a duty of political responsiveness anchored on refined human character. This same people have also promised you a university and a new state, two months to the elections. You know they cannot be trusted.

We recognise the role that mass media has historically played in forming cohesive communities, fostering harmony and uniting peoples. Kaduna State cannot be whole when a government neglects to treat it as a unified broadcasting space. An APC government will end the information dichotomy which has seen our state not having a state-wide public broadcaster whose signals can be clearly received in every inch of the state. If elected, we will unite our state by making our public radio and television accessible to every part and every resident of this state. Services of Kaduna State Radio and Television that have been cut off in Southern Kaduna will be revived as a priority item.

Yet despite the passion we have seen, and the incredible support demonstrated, the job is not yet done. To deliver change we all must first collect our PVCs and turn up to vote, and guarantee by our conduct an atmosphere of peace and calm.

We ask once again that you give our party,the APC, your vote at all levels. We are ready for the responsibility of governance.

Let’s make Kaduna great again!

Nasir El-Rufai