YAR’ADUA IS HALE AND HEARTY.

PDP Presidential Candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has challenged his opponents to a game of squash to prove his good health. Yar’Adua accused desperate opposition leaders of Spreading false rumours about his alleged ill health. He said if they could play 12 straight squash sets, he would welcome a game. Following a meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo at State House, Yar’Adua told reporters he was “hale and hearty”. Referring to his critics, he said: “I will invite them to a game of squash. If they can play 12 straight set with me, they are welcome”.  Vanguard, Thisday, Leadership, BBC 05/01/2007

7-03-2007

PDP Presidential Campaign committee inaugurated.  

The PDP has announced the establishment of a Presidential Campaign Council  to be headed by

1.       President Olusegun Obasanjo

2.       Dr. Ahmadu Ali, National Chairman PDP

3.       Chief  Anthony Anineh, Chairman BOT

4.       Governor Umaru Musa Yar’adua, PDP Presidential Candidate

5.        Governor Jonathan Goodluck, Vice Presidential Candidate

6.       Chief Ojo Madueke, National Secretary PDP

7.       Chief Olabode George Deputy National Chairman

8.       Alhaji Adamu  Bello

9.       Chief Femi Otedola

10.   Governor Saminu Turaki  and

11.   Governor James Ibori 

Zonal Coordinators

1.       Governor  Ahmed Makarfi (North-West)

2.       Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (North east)

3.       Amina Ndalolo (North Central)

4.       Governor Sam Egwu (South East)

5.       Wole Rotimi (South West)

6.       Uche Secondus (South- South)

7.       Sen. Ken Nnamani (National Assembly) 

Directors

1.       John Odey ( Publicity)

2.       Tanimu Yakubu ( Finance and Admin)

3.       Doa Akinyuli (Operations and Mobilisaton)

Gov. Yar’Adua was in Sokoto to flag-off his nationwide campaign to seek the nomination of PDP delegates as the party’s flag-bearer in the 2007 Presidential election.

Yar’Adua said he was proud of his first campaign outing and assured supporters of PDP that he regards them in high esteem because of their important role as the bulwark of democracy and electors of political office holders. “I am here to seek your votes at the forthcoming convention. I want to assure you that I will not betray the country. If I get the ticket, I will hold onto the trust you and the country confer on me”.

I’m not in PDP race to block Atiku
New Nigerian Nov. 29, 2006

Gov. Yar’Adua yesterday in Lagos described as false the insinuation that he was drafted into the race to block the chances of Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Yar’Adua said claims that President Olusegun Obasanjo was behind his Presidential ambition were also not true.

The governor said anyone who governed a state is in a better position to be given the onerous responsibility of steering the leadership of the country. He promised to make life more meaningful to all Nigerians by way of improving on the infrastructure facilities, tackling unemployment, boosting education and good health care delivery, among others.

Tinubu Recieves Yar’Adua
THISDAY Nov. 29, 2006

Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declares that Nigeria needs a leader who can pull the country together and close the gap which exists between the rich and poor.“We need a great thinker and doer as President, we need some one who can combine hope with the power to think and do. Someone who can ensure that we continue to remain a united country”.

Adedibu: Others back Yar’Adua Presidential bid.
Guardian Dec 1, 2006

Prominent politicians in the South-West who are former political associates and supporters of the Late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua may have put aside their present political differences to mobilize and rally support for Katsina State Governor. Adedibu said that, “We in the South-West have agreed to support you fully and to mobilize our people to re-enact the historic massive political backing we gave your late elder brother, Major Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua”.

Umar Yar’Adua: Things are looking up.
Vanguard, Dec 6, 2006

Reading through a foreign newspaper recently, the least I could do on seeing the bright prospects of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in the coming Presidential election was sigh in relief. For the first time since campaigns began towards the 2007 polls, a very believable candidate is emerging, and what is more, people are seeing his qualities.

Trailing Yar’Adua Campaign in South-West
THISDAY Dec 6, 2006

Katsina State governor and PDP Presidential aspirant Umaru Yar’Adua explained why he joined the race. “You see, from 1998, I have been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, I am a dedicated and loyal member of my party, I do not recognize any other political association apart from that I represent, and my loyalty is 100% to my party”.

“Whatever I do in this party, I will do it with all sincerity. I’ll not do any evil against anybody because I know the race is the will of God. I’ll work with my power to ensure that I serve my country. The service you offer those you serve is yours and those you help are the issues that make life meaningful”.

Speaking further, he said as a two term governor, he believed he had acquired huge experience to face the challenges of the presidency, adding:” I thought with my experience as two terms governor, my area of focus is to make sure that the nation realizes that we need to energize the wealth creation in the country”.

“I’m committed to this country, to the people and I have a sincere desire to serve the people of this country. I’m also very proud to be in the PDP. It is not pride based on arrogance, but a pride caused by achievements”.

He said for the first time in the history of this country, the party under the leadership of Presdient Olusegun Obasanjo has started a road map, a very clear and focused mission and vision for Nigeria and its people, adding that the party has also evolved realistic policies and programmes that it has transformed through our manifesto so that the manifesto of the party constitute what now the party holds as national economic empowerment and development strategy phase II.

Yar’Adua-More than a name
Vanguard, Dec 7, 2006

When Umaru became governor in 1999 and again in 2003, many thought it was all about the influence of his elder brother, the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua. Few expected that Umaru had anything to prove. His tenure in Katsina is however a testimony to service, selflessness and exemplary connection with the people, for a man that would have made the people to worship him.

His tenure represents the new face of service, an uncommon characteristics that has been lacking in our polity. For him the service he provided in Katsina State was nothing new, he made no noise about it, but one of the regrets of the people is that he would be gone as governor by May 29.

His politics is about the common good, the people and accountability, integrity and better still getting things done without the attention some manage to draw to themselves.

One of the outstanding things about Governor Yar’Adua is his proactive integrity. On assumption of office, without prompting, he published his declaration of assets and did so again on winning re-election in 2003. The law provides that he declares his assets- he went a step further to make them public.
His commitment to fiscal prudence has resulted in management of the States resources to a point that from indebt ness, Katsina State has a reserve of about N5billion. He achieved this feat while pursuing a revolution in all the areas that touch the people directly-education, health, water, roads and a micro-credit scheme to assist farmers. A joint initiative of the state, local governments and international development partners has ensured 65% success in provision of safe, drinkable water-thereby reducing water borne diseases in Katsina State.

The Primary Health Care Delivery Agency in collaboration with the National Programme on Immunization to provide routine immunization for children, thus reducing child mortality rates and giving kids a better lease of life.

Dramatic results have been achieved in education. Primary school enrolment jumped from just 460,000 in 1999 to over one million today. A scholarship trust fund with an initial capital investment of N1.5billion initiated by the state guarantee potential students class population from an average 250 students per primary school class to 40 today is another of these feats. The annual extra budgetary spending of N500million in primary education has enhanced infrastructures and teacher quality.

Governor Yar’Adua wants to bring his revolution in Katsina State to a national platform, in keeping with his commitment to service to Nigeria, Nigerians and humanity.