The Vice Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described the emergence of Peter Obi as a great treasure to the nation.
Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure when he represented Obi to commiserate with the government and people of Beirut Road GSM market Kano over building collapse and massive flooding at the Kantin Kwari textile market.
Addressing a mammoth crowd in Kano, Baba-Ahmed said Nigeria has never had it so good in terms of choice with the emergence of Mr Obi as a leading businessman.
According to the VP candidate, Mr Obi, as a bank owner and modest promoter of education, knows the nitty gritty of repositioning Nigeria to be on the pedestal of development.
He said if the Labour Party win elections in 2023, it would restructure market system, using strict adherence to regulations in a bid to provide conducive atmosphere for business in the country.
“When we come on board, we would ensure compliance with regulations. But, even more important, when we promote education, we promote the culture of following building standard and regulations.
“We are expansionist in nearly everything we do. Kantin Kwari’s capacity has for long exceeded the territory it operates.
“So, it is high time to expand the market into Kantin Kwari 2 and Kantin Kwari 3. This is our thinking in labour party.
“It is about time to break out of the box from thinking of shago-shago system we know, into modern markets and shopping malls. That is the kind of leaders we hope to be,” he said.
Mr Baba-Ahmed said he was in Kano to represent Mr Obi to commiserate the people over the unfortunate incidents.
He also disclosed that Mr Obi would pay a visit to the state himself when he returns from a trip to United States of America.
He also announced that he personally donated some relief to the traders of the two affected markets, adding that he would not disclosed the amount he donated.
In his remarks earlier, the gubernatorial candidate of the LP in Kano, Engineer Bashir I. Bashir, said if the party win election, the kind of flooding and substandard buildings would be over.
He blamed the government of cashing the problem due to what he described as illegal allocation of lands and buildings without following due process.
According to Mr Bashir, had Labour Party was in power, such problems would never happen in Kano.
The governorship candidate also commiserated with the leadership, victims, traders and people of the state for the two unfortunate incidents.
He said, “when we come to power, we would provide modern markets in this state,”
Speaking earlier, the Xhsirman of Kantin Kwari Market Traders, Sharu Sagiru Wada, said the market had lost over N4.5 billion in the flooding.
He added that over 800 shops stocked with goods were also affected by having the commodities damaged.