2019 Election: Kwankwaso runs with APC’s ‘Change’ mantra, pledges to end medical tourism
Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso on Wednesday officially declared his ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election.
Kwankwaso will first seek to win PDP’s sole presidential ticket to be able to participate in the February 2019 poll.
He pledged that his main goal is to provide affordable healthcare services.
Kwankwaso, lamenting a habit of medical tourism among Nigerian politicians, said: “Now that medical tourism has become the first choice of our leaders, we will ensure that the current situation in clinics and hospitals is given radical reforms.
“We shall prioritise and institutionalise national healthcare programmes and delivery medical education and training and financing of healthcare in a manner that is universally accessible and affordable.
“Our main goal in healthcare would be to provide affordable healthcare services for all Nigerians.”
Kwankwaso also said bad policies by the incumbent government led to a weak economy, which he pledged would be corrected if he’s voted into office.
“Tight monetary rates, exchange rates fluctuations, inflation and unemployment are the dominant factors hindering the growth and survival of our businesses in the country today,” he said.
“Therefore our focus shall be on sound economic policies that will ensure a new regime of exchange rate stability. low interest rates and reduction in the country’s rising burden of domestic and foreign loans.
“In the past three years, poverty and unemployment have become more visible, challenging Nigeria’s economic prosperity. Existing policies and economic programmes for alleviating the poverty incidence in the country have obviously failed.
“Our non-negotiable goal will therefore be the eradication of poverty through sustainable wealth creation and a coordinated and effective micro-small and medium enterprises development.”
He further said the issue of power generation would be keenly looked into by his government – if he’s voted president.
“Energy need keeps shooting up the stress of doing business m Nigeria. Domestic production suffers and a lot of foreign companies also find it hard to invest in Nigeria due to constant power failure for decades. Nigeria failed to develop its infrastructure,” he said.
“I offer positive change. Change has again become inevitable. To live is to witness changes because change is an inseparable part of living,” he said.
“Come May 2019, the narrative of helplessness, buck-passing, division, poverty, insecurity and hopelessness must change to turn to a new dawn of confidence in building a one well restructured Nigeria.
“The constant misuse of security apparatus will stop immediately. Ours is a recommitment to strengthening all democratic institutions in Nigeria,” he added.
