Satumari (right) to battle Ndume as friends present him the senatorial nomination form on his birthday in Abuja
By Isah Hussein
As the build-up to the 2023 general elections begins in earnest, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aerokeys Nigeria limited, Hon Kudla Satumari is set to battle the Southern Borno Senate seat with Sen Ali Ndume, as friends purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms for him.
The form was presented to him as a gift to mark his 52 birthday yesterday.
Satumari, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have contested the senatorial seat against Ndume since 2011 and the duo also battled for the Borno South Senatorial District in 2019.
Speaking while receiving the forms, Satumari said he was pleasantly surprised when some groups of friends told him not to use his money to buy the Senatorial form.
“They said to me enough is enough. You have spent a lot to bring leadership to us, this time around, we will bear the cost of the interest and nomination forms.
“They called me and said they would handover the forms on my birthday. Now that has shown that collectively, our aspiration can be fulfilled.
“During the campaigns in the last election, I went to every settlement in the 9 LGAs.
“We saw a particular place in Shani LGA, after crossing three ponds. They told us their daily morning prayer is that God should wake them up early to be the first to reach the pond before animals, because both human and animals drink water from the same pond,” Satumari said promising to give a purposeful leadership if elected.
“For some, their problem is not water. In some places, school children sit on the ground and use blocks as desks to write.
“When given the opportunity, I will hold this office in trust for the people. I may not have the solutions to all the problems, but I will bring developmental changes to the land.
“We will identify the actual needs of the people. For some, their problem is not class rooms, it’s health centres. Some, don’t have good roads and bridges,” Satumari said, adding that “people are suffering, yet, we have members in the National Assembly that have been there for more than five times.
“We will introduce town hall meetings. I want you guys to hold us accountable.
“We’ve given scholarships to hundreds of students in universities. We have built schools, built Mosques, Churches for the teaching of peace and harmony,” Satumari said, while calling on his supporters to maintain decent campaign strategy.
“I’ve seen the passion and dedication of everyone of you. If this is the way we are going, I will deliver all your aspiration,” Satumari added.
The Chairman, Haske Foundation, Dr Alfred Gadzama, said the people are determined that Satumari becomes their Senator in 2023.
“By his grace, another election is by the corner. Let me thank all of you for making the resources available to buy the forms, because you believe in me but it is God that gives power, and we stand by you. We must not sell our destiny. Your destiny is in your hands,” Gadzama said.
Presenting the forms to him, a chieftain of the PDP in Borno State, Mr Mbirza Gabasa, said Satumari’s aspiration is a big project they will all celebrate.
He said they have been winning but have been denied the seat.
“This time around, it will be a campaign everyone will be eager to join which will be a celebration for all,” Gabasa said.
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