The Imo state chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Chief Sir Mandis Duruimo, has said his party is poised to take over the reins of governance from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Speaking to our correspondent in Owerri, he said that the party had been able to engage Imo electorate in a door-to-door campaign, visiting wards and local government areas to keep in touch with them, adding that they hoped to take the state to a higher level as some personalities had already shown interest.
Chief Duruimo further said, “We are coming with good tidings with which to change the narratives and make the difference. There is too much of insecurity leading to killings in the state, lack of infrastructure and other democracy dividends and Imo people have lost confidence in the government of the day. But we are coming to change all that.”
On the belief in some quarters that the NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been moving from one state to the other opening offices without bothering to attend functions with other candidates, he said office opening as a big campaign strategy which showed acceptability.
He added that he did that mostly before official commencement of campaigns but would show his pedigree now that campaigns had started.
“We have offices in the 36 states of the federation unlike some of the parties contesting with us.”
“Again, our principal has been attending functions but anyone he fails to attend, he gives his reasons. On a daily basis, he has a very tight schedule and mustn’t have chance to attend to all invites.”
Duruimo also described the media rating which appears to keep the NNPP Presidential candidate outside the first three major candidates like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu most of the time as nothing more than a social media hype.
“We don’t believe so much on social media. But I can assure you that Senator Kwankwaso is among the 3 major contenders of the 2023 presidency.”
The Imo NNPP chairman seized the opportunity afforded by the chat to dismiss the insinuation in some quarters that Senator Kwankwaso is a tribal and religious bigot, saying his records speak for him.
“In the party, we have personalities from different religions and tribes occupying different political positions unlike some parties. We have no religious or tribal issues.
“The party founder, Dr Aniegbulam is a Christian; the party chairman is a Moslem, the presidential candidate is a moslem, while his vice presidential candidate is a Christian, Bishop Idahosa.
“We are also going to spread political positions when he becomes president. He is also gender sensitive, allowed 50% nomination forms for women during primaries”.