After many weeks of aversion to his candidacy, Adamawa State Governor, Bala James Ngilari, has finally acknowledged former Economic and Financial Crimes Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Besides, the governor has promised to team up with other PDP stakeholders in the North East state to work for the victory of Ribadu in the February 28 governorship poll.
Ngilari, who spoke in Yola on Wednesday while formally receiving Ribadu in his office, declared that the contention for the party’s ticket was over and called on party loyalists to rally round its candidates for various posts to ensure victory at the polls.
The governor said there was no need to continue to dissipate energy on the candidature of Ribadu, having been nominated by the people to serve them.
Recalling that it was fate that brought him into office of the governor, Ngilari, said that he had accepted whatever had transpired during the primaries of the PDP in the state as an act of God, and pleaded with those still aggrieved over it, to forget the past and move on.
Ngillari stated that he and Ribadu had come a long way, since the days of the Oputa Panel, and would continue to work together in the new terrain of politics.
The governor said: “I know you personally as an upright person and a man of principle. A lot of people don’t know that we have a long history. I hereby endorse you and we will work hard for your victory and all other candidates.
Ribadu said he decided to visit the governor on arrival in Yola to give him his due recognition as the leader of the party in the state and as the one who will lead the party to victory in the forthcoming elections.
“We are a family. We are united and we will face a common front for the success of our party. We come to thank the governor for his uncommon support and amazing sacrifice in the larger interest of the party.
“All that we did was in the bid to get Adamawa on the right track and since we have a common goal, we are going to forge ahead as one family under your leadership,” Ribadu said.
It will be recalled that Ngilari, backed by the suspended Chairman of the PDP in the state, Joel Madaki, had opposed Ribadu’s candidacy on the grounds that the primary election in Abuja that produced him was stage-managed by Abuja politicians and was null and void.
