Presidency: NIEC adopts Yar’adua
By HABIBA BALARABE

THE National Islamic Education Council (NIEC), has adopted Governor Umaru Musa Yar’adua as the presidential candidate of the PDP, saying he is the best candidate for the nation’s most exalted seat for 2007 election.
The Council which met at Tahir Guest Palace Kano said after due consultation with many Islamic scholars on the April election, it adopted the Matawalen Katsina as presidential candidate.
It further stated that it had studied all the presidential candidates and concluded that Yar’adua scored the highest vote for the speedy transformation of Katsina into a model state and his outstanding contributions to national development.
The governor is also rated for his financial discipline, honesty, transparency, probity and above all good governance, the council emphasized.
In a statement signed and issued to Sunday Triumph, the council however, agreed that Nigeria needed a diciplinarian and non-sectional leader. A leader with an exceptional ability, sincerety of purpose, wisdom and noble qualities.
The country needs a leader who will uplift the country’s social and economic growth, adding that “we are not partisan but defend honesty, justice and good governance”.
Also, the council appealed to Nigerians to look at the personalities of individuals and their contributions to the society before electing them into public office.
The council said it had plan to organise a national rally on April 10, 2007 at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, under the leadership of Alhaji Dahiru Mangaal and governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi as the special guest of honour, while Alhaji A. Dayyabu Safana is to be the chief host in support of Governor Yar’adua`s candidature.
Prominent national Islamic scholars will speak on the quality of a good leader, fit for public office with a view to educating the electorate on how to vote for personal integrity.