By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda, has dismissed the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as a threat to the victory of his party in Katsina State, saying he does not know about the opposition party.
Fielding questions from journàlists yesterday in Abuja, Radda, who was a Director General of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said though he is not enderestimating anybody or political party, but that his party will give a good fight as much as it can to ensure that victory is achieved.
“I am still trying to figure out which one is NNPP. I believe that we have PDP. We cannot say we are underrating anybody or an opponent. We will give a fight as much as we can. And, we are praying to God to give us victory”, Radda told journàlists.
Speaking on the defection in the state before the party primary, he said he will bring everybody onboard, especially given that he does not have the intention of harming anyone if he emerges as Governor of Katsina State.
“I don’t have the intention of having any bad feelings toward anybody who contested the election against me. Because I am a democrat. Since I have been in the party, I was the National Welfare of the APC. I have worked as a member of the NWC of the party. I know what the spirit of the party meant.
“And I have contested election and I won. I have also contested an election and I lost. And, this is another opportunity for me and I won. So, I know the pains of losing the election and I know the joy of winning too. So, I have all the experience. I will never let anybody down. My opponent and or any other person”, he said.
At this juncture, he dismissed the claim that he is the candidate of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that he, with other politicians in Katsina State, belong to the political family led by Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
“The President does not have a candidate. Whoever knows Mr. President knows that he has no candidate in whatever elections. Again, in Katsina state, the Governor has declared publicly that he does not have a candidate.
“I mentioned earlier that all of us belong to the political family of the Governor. We have been in politics together for over 20 years. It is a fight from within and among friends within the family. Family members were able to accept their fate. And, we thank them for doing that. We accept magnanimity as a family”, he said.
He also alluded to his popularity in the State, saying if he was not acceptable to many, he would not have won the primary election, which he said is more keenly contested in Katsina.
