The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, has warned those claiming ownership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) structure in the state, declaring that nobody can “ride the horse” without his consent.
Wadada made the statement on Saturday while addressing supporters at an APC Tiv community rally in Imon, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Using a metaphorical reference to a horse, the senator said he was instrumental in building and nurturing the political structure being claimed by some individuals, insisting that those seeking to benefit from it must first obtain his consent.
“Anybody who knows me knows me with a horse. Nobody will ride the horse without my consent,” he said.
The APC candidate also called on the Tiv community in Nasarawa State to remain proud and reject attempts by anyone to claim exclusive ownership or indigeny status in the state.
Wadada argued that if the issue was about indigeny, nobody could claim to be completely indigenous, noting that all the civilian governors produced by the state could equally be described as settlers under such an argument.
“If people are talking about me being a settler, then all the civilian governors Nasarawa has produced were also settlers,” he said.
Wadada also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Federal Government’s interventions in Nasarawa State had contributed significantly to the development of the state.
According to him, many of the infrastructure projects being executed by the Nasarawa State Government under Governor Abdullahi Sule were made possible by the policies and support of the Tinubu administration.
“Tinubu has done much for Nasarawa,” he said, arguing that the president deserved another term in office based on his administration’s achievements in the state.
On the recurring farmers-herders conflicts, the APC candidate advocated ranching as a means of reducing clashes and improving livestock management in the state.
Wadada stressed that ranching should not be viewed as an issue peculiar to the Fulani, describing it as a business practice adopted in different parts of the world.
“Ranching is not about the Fulanis. Ranching is a business everywhere in the world,” he said.
He promised that, if elected governor, his administration would establish ranches across Nasarawa State, adding that livestock ownership was not limited to any particular ethnic group.
“Every individual has cows. Ranching is not about Fulanis,” he said.
Wadada, however, acknowledged that he did not have solutions to all the challenges confronting the state, but assured residents that his administration would be guided by fairness and justice if elected governor.
He urged the people of Nasarawa State to support his candidacy, promising to promote equity and ensure that all communities had a sense of belonging under his administration.