The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have taken their campaign for the 2023 elections to Kaduna State with a visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli.
The presidential candidates visited the revered Emir on Saturday at different times with high caliber politicians.
Abubakar was accompanied by the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; and former governors of Adamawa and Niger States, Boni Haruna and Babangida Aliyu.
Some serving and former members of the National Assembly also accompanied Abubakar on the royal visit.
While in Kaduna State, Abubakar is billed to visit Kaduna city and Kafanchan.
He also attended an interactive session with presidential candidates organised by the Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna.
Abubakar said the visit to the palace was to pay homage on the first class traditional ruler and seek Bamalli’s blessings on his ambition.
He said: “My visit here is a home coming, but it has been a tradition of our campaign programmes to seek for the blessings, advice and guidance of our royal fathers.
“I’m also here to congratulate and rejoice with you on the conferment of national honour given to you by the president.
“With this visit, we hope to boost and strengthen our campaign activities geared towards national unity and development.”
Earlier, Tambuwal said as the party has commenced its political activities and required blessings from traditional leaders.
“By this, we hope to receive guidance and prayers to enable us succeed in our campaign activities,” said the PDP PCC Director-General.
Responding, Bamalli advised politicians to play by the rules of the game and avoid utterance that may jeopardised national unity.
Tinubu visited Bamalli after attending the seventh edition of Kaduna Investment Forum.
Tinubu, who was accompanied by his host, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, and APC stalwarts, was in the palace to seek royal blessing and pay homage to the emir.
Tinubu arrived the palace few hours after the departure of Abubakar to Kaduna for his campaign and engagement with Arewa Joint Committee.
While apologising for his inability to attend Bamalli’s coronation, Tinubu said he would make the palace his second home, especially when he becomes the next president of the country.
Earlier, el-Rufai said though it was the first time the APC presidential flagbearer visited the first class traditional ruler, it would be the beginning of many future visits to the palace.
He described Tinubu as a person who has long pedigree and respect for the traditional institution.
He added that part of the respect for traditional institutions made him visit the emir a few hours after his arrival for the seventh edition of Kaduna Investment Forum, insisting on visiting the palace to pay homage to the royal father.
He said: “This is not a visit to start a campaign.
“It is a visit to consult you and tap from your wisdom and we will come back for a campaign visit.
“This is just a courtesy call.
“Having visited Kaduna, Asiwaju felt his visit was incomplete without paying homage to you.”
Responding, Bamalli appealed to politicians to work towards strengthening national unity throughout their electioneering for the general elections in 2023.
He said: “In the next few months, we will be approaching a difficult period of our coexistence.
“That is, we are getting into the political arena with a lot of politicking.
“I would like to take this liberty to request you to show maturity and experience as the former governor of Lagos State to play a vital role for a historic election.
“What we need at this point is the security of our country, improved economy and peaceful co-existence.
“The issue of division of Nigeria should be put aside.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
