I’m Not In Gov’ship Race To Buy Cars, Build Houses With Public Funds – Lado

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke, has declared that he is not seeking to become a governor to enrich himself with public funds, buy luxury cars or build houses.

He pledged to dedicate the state’s resources to improving the welfare of the residents.

Danmarke made the declaration when he received over 10,000 members of the Katsina Frontier Group led by Alhaji Aliyu Sani, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, along with their political structures.

Addressing the defectors, the PDP candidate said his ambition was driven by a desire to address the challenges facing Katsina rather than to acquire personal wealth through public office.

“I am not seeking to become governor to enrich myself with public funds, change my shirts or buy cars with government money. I don’t need houses. I am coming to save Katsina and write my name in gold, just like other past leaders and governors of the state,” he said.

He assured the residents that every public fund invested by his administration would directly benefit the people, stressing that his experience as a businessman had taught him the importance of proper financial management and accountability.

“Every money we invest, we shall ensure it benefits the people of the state. As a businessman, I will ensure that people’s wealth is properly managed and utilised for their benefit. I have no intention of using the funds of Katsina State to enrich myself,” he added.

Danmarke questioned why Katsina, despite receiving trillions of naira in government allocations, should continue to experience widespread poverty, insecurity, poor healthcare and other development challenges.

He described the present administration as a one-man-show government, alleging that the welfare of ordinary residents had been neglected despite the resources available to the state.

The PDP candidate also questioned the justification for re-electing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, arguing that it had failed to adequately address insecurity despite repeatedly claiming to have done everything within its power.

He further alleged that even some APC members were dissatisfied with the administration.

Danmarke urged residents to support a government that would prioritise security, quality healthcare, education, peace and policies capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities for youths and women, rather than temporary empowerment programmes.

“Today, Katsina people are scavenging for food on the streets, washing and eating just to survive hunger and starvation. I assure you that within the shortest possible time, we will restore security and provide free drugs in hospitals if elected,” he said.

He also raised concerns over the alleged deterioration of public institutions, particularly boarding schools, hospitals and tertiary institutions.

According to him, some educationists who recently visited him complained that principals of boarding schools had been borrowing money for more than three months to run their institutions and provide food for students because of inadequate government allocations.

On healthcare, Danmarke alleged that the monthly allocation to the Turai Yar’Adua hospital, which he said stood at N10 million during the administration of former Governor Aminu Bello Masari, had been reduced to N700,000 under the present government.

He further claimed that the hospital sometimes waited up to three months to receive its allocation, a situation he said had affected its operations and contributed to doctors leaving the facility.

The PDP candidate also alleged that tertiary institutions in the state were experiencing similar difficulties, with lecturers leaving because of worsening conditions.

He accused government officials of giving the impression that everything was working while critical public institutions were struggling to deliver essential services.

Describing the 2027 election as an opportunity to change the direction of governance in the state, Danmarke called on opposition supporters to intensify mobilisation, saying unseating the APC should be treated as a collective responsibility.

He thanked the Katsina Frontier Group for abandoning the APM and joining the PDP, describing the development as a boost to the party’s political structure ahead of the elections.

Earlier, the group’s leader, Alhaji Aliyu Sani, said the decision to join the PDP was informed by confidence in Danmarke’s leadership and his commitment to the people’s welfare.

Sani said the group had moved, along with all its political structures, into the PDP, pledging to mobilise its members and supporters across the state.

He said the group was attracted by what he described as Danmarke’s consistent assistance to people in different ways, arguing that sustainable interventions were more beneficial than giving people small amounts of money that could not address their long-term economic difficulties.

“We came with all our structures to the PDP. Go and tell the people of the state to vote for leaders who will help them and prioritise their welfare and well-being. We are ready to throw our weight behind Lado,” he said.

Also speaking, the PDP senatorial candidate for the Funtua Zone, Nura Khalid, expressed confidence in Danmarke’s political ambition and accused the APC administration of being more concerned with securing re-election than addressing the challenges facing residents.

Khalid questioned the relationship between the state’s reported revenue allocations, which he put at over N3 trillion, and the level of development on the ground.

He called on residents to join what he described as a movement for responsible leadership and accountability, urging them to support Danmarke in the 2027 governorship election.