Alhaji Gambo Lawan, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Borno State, has assured the electorate that he would rebuild the party and reposition the state if elected in 2015.
Lawan gave the assurance at a news conference in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Friday following his victory at the primary election.
He said his decision to join the governorship race was informed by a long period of “self-searching and strong conviction” to lead the party to victory.
Lawan promised that he would use his wealth of experience to rebuild and reposition the state if elected.
He added that he would build confidence and trust of the people, including the members and leaders of the PDP, who had become distraught by internal wrangling that fractured the cohesion and harmony in the party.
He said: “None of the people I discussed with expressed any doubt about my capacity to lead the party.
“I have experience in party administration.
“Therefore, I am not new to the nitty-gritty of the assignment before me, which is governance.
“I will, indeed, ensure that our party is a truly democratic party and I am poised to replicate and even do better in bringing about a utilitarian leadership that will rekindle a sense of belonging to our state.
“I believe in true principles of democracy.
“I believe in ensuring that party members do have the opportunity to contest for any position within the party and achieve it.
“This is without having to be imposed or anointed by anybody other than the process that has been laid down.
“I believe in a party that is built on unity and harmony.
“I believe that once the process of democracy is allowed to take its course, party members will have a sense of belonging.
“I want to see a party that is free of internal wrangling and a party that is free of interference by outsiders.”
Lawan said that he would work in concert with all well-meaning members and leaders of the party and bring integrity into the administrative and democratic processes in the state.