Restructuring: We are open to discussion, negotiation if elected- Kwankwaso

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The Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, says the party is open to discussing with Nigerians, negotiating, and doing the right thing if elected the country’s president.

He however clarified that doing the wrong thing has been responsible for the agitation for restructuring in Nigeria.

Speaking in Lagos on Sunday where he appeared on the Editors’ Forum, an initiative of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Kwankwaso said he planned to solve the problem of insecurity by increasing military and police personnel.

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“Getting security right will reduce the agitation for restructuring. I am open to restructuring if elected. We would be happy to sit down with anyone or any group that clamours for restructuring to resolve it.

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“We are not going to be rigid on restructuring, especially in the areas of insecurity, economy and education. These three are crucial for development to take place,” he said.

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The former Kano governor also said  that restructuring was only possible if there were good leaders committed to uniting Nigerians and upgrading security, economy, and education, among others.

Commenting on the insecurity in the country, he said, “So many people have lost their lives and means of livelihood; some are in the hospitals while some are internally displaced and cannot work.

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“We believe that there must be security for us to experience progress and development.

“After studying the level of insecurity in the country, I believe that there is a need to recruit more military personnel.

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“Considering the ratio of civilians to military personnel, there is a need to increase the number of personnel in the armed forces. We need a minimum of one million.”

As a two-term governor, Kwankwaso said he paid special attention to human capital development and educational advancement.

“We built universities and also established 26 academic and manpower development training institutes.

“Through these institutes, over 360,000 youth and women were trained and empowered.

“We also gave free lunch to primary school pupils, we started the initiative in Nigeria, we gave scholarships to 370 outstanding students, and 148 full-time scholarships to Nigerian students across 0the country,” he said.

Kwankwaso assured Nigerians that such strides would continue if he became head of state in 2023.

Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions that he was being pressed to step down for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“That rumour is coming from detractors; it is just wishful thinking.

“NNPP is all out to win the 2023 election and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I know l will get the required numbers,” Kwankwaso boasted.

He challenged his colleagues in the 2023 presidential race to a political debate, explaining that  people are now more interested in candidates and not party. ” I pity some candidates that think it is their turn when they ought to be taking their rest,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, NNPP’s Founder and Chairman of, Board of Trustees(BOT), expressed confidence that Kwankwaso would be the next president of Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to join the party in order to build the new country of their dream.

Earlier in an opening remark, NGE  President Mustapha Isah had said that the forum was interested in knowing the candidate’s plans for the country so that the people could make informed choices.

Isah said that the forum would host all presidential candidates while urging all of them to address key issues that concern the people and avoid attacks on individuals.

He also cautioned against false claims aimed at misleading the electorate.

“The Nigerian Guild of Editors pleads with politicians to avoid attacks on individuals

“They should, rather, focus on the real issues that concern the ordinary people.

“I also urge the presidential candidates to call their spokespersons to order as some of their press statements and interviews are heating up the polity.

“On our part, we pledge to be neutral. Nigeria must get it right next year and we want issues-based campaigns,” he said.

 

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