By Sadiq Umar – Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the vacuum in leadership at the federal level is one of the reasons he decided to contest the 2019 presidential election.
Mr. Dankwambo also carpeted those who lay claim to being the “born leaders,” saying it is not enough to make such claim but they should demonstrate true leadership rather than mouthing it.
The PDP presidential hopeful spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting with the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders led by elder statesman, Edwin Clark.
According to him, the problem plaguing the country is lack of capacity to provide quality leadership at the centre. He expressed his readiness to provide the required leadership if voted in as President in 2019.
“There is one thing that is missing and that is leadership. I belief that if I am given the opportunity I can fill the leadership vacuum. They say some people are born leaders but it is also necessary that when you are born a leader that you demonstrate that you are a leader; not I can do, I can do “, he said.
Mr. Dankwambo said “Nigeria needs the kind of leadership that will have the balance mind to look through all sorts of people across our country and get the best material that can work towards uplifting the living standards of the ordinary people. Even to also make life very meaningful for the retired people and the generality of Nigerians”.
He expressed strong desire to render service to the country as a way of giving back to the nation, adding that Nigeria had offered him the opportunity to reach the peak of his professional career as Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The desire to run for the office is because I thought that Nigeria has given me so much and I feel that I have a responsibility to give back to my country. This country did everything for me for what I am today and I think I have a responsibility bearing in mind what is happening”.
“If it is hunger, I don’t need to remind you about what is happening; if it unemployment all of us have one person or the other who is looking for job; if it is insecurity, I don’t know the number of soldiers or policemen waiting to provide us with security.”
Mr. Dankwambo flaunted his achievement as Gombe state governor to include provision of adequate security for the people of the state which he promised to replicate as President.
“In areas like security, you know my location in Gombe State. It is not more than an hour from Gombe to Sambisa Forest but we have maintained security. We have promoted peace in Gombe.
“We know how to do it. We live together as brothers and sisters. We don’t have kidnappers. We don’t have so many of these issues of insecurity. Being in the centre where we are, we know how to do it. It is not that I can do it, I am doing it now”.
