GOVERNOR Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State has urged opposition parties in the state to join hands with him in forming an all-inclusive government. The call came shortly after his victory at last Thursday's rescheduled governorship election in the state.
But the defeated opposition parties' candidates have rejected the offer and accused Mr. Yakowa's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of electoral malpractices and rigging in the just-concluded Governorship polls.
Besides, former Kaduna State Governor and Peoples Republic Party (PRP) candidate in the election, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, however, alleged that the Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) was guilty of the same rigging of which the opposition parties were accusing the PDP of having committed in the state.
Yakowa had called on all opposition elements in the state to bury their differences and join hands with him during his four-year administration, which will commence on May 29, 2011. He spoke immediately after the INEC Returning Officer in the state and Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Mustapha Abdullahi, announced his victory.
"That this election have come and went so smoothly is a hallmark of whom we are as a people and what we can do together when we are united and focused. I call on all people of Kaduna state who have entrusted me with this mandate to serve as Governor; and I remain committed to the promises I have made over and over that we shall do our best to run an inclusive government. Without you, there would be no democracy; we shall work together and I will assure you that we shall ensure that life becomes more purposeful for you and your families," Yakowa said.
However, Alhaji Musa, who faulted the conduct of the rescheduled elections in the state, argued that both the PDP and CPC were guilty of electoral malpractices and rigging.
According to him, "What I can say is that the results of the elections defied any reason or logic, adding that "there was massive malpractices, rigging and none existence of elections in some place but with declaration of results to a level higher than we experienced in 2003 and 2007."
Musa, who is also Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), pointed out that "soldiers and policemen, numbering over 28,000, were deployed to Kaduna for the reason given as security, but, somehow the security personnel ended being the cause of insecurity and participated in the rigging in various ways."
He refused to accept that he lost the Kaduna Gubernatorial election. "No, I didn't lose, I was priced out and we were rigged because, I can tell you that massive thumb-printing of ballot boxes took place in Kaduna State by PDP and CPC.
"I am indicting the CPC because I am being honest; I am not allowing the relationship with anybody to prevent me from telling the truth."
Meanwhile, some opposition governorship candidates have called for the cancellation of the polls in Kaduna and the declaration of a state of emergency to allow a proper election to be conducted.
At a press conference, the CPC candidate, Alhaji Haruna Saeed, and others said: "We reject the elections and demand for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Kaduna State until the atmosphere becomes conducive for free and fair elections.
"Report from Southern part of the state indicated that there was more than 90 per cent voter turnout in the area, with the dead and the displaced victims of the recent violence all voting for the PDP."
Source: Yakowa Solicits Support For Inclusive Govt In Kaduna (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46549:yakowa-solicits-support-for-inclusive-govt-in-kaduna-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)