Zakari announced his intentions in a letter of intent, indicating his intention to run for governor under the banner of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the next governorship election.
He said he made the decision after receiving calls from a variety of political and other interest groups around the state pushing him to run in the election.
He promised to expand on the solid foundation created by the state’s current governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, who he said had done an outstanding job in establishing a government that truly serves the people.
According to Zakari, “Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has done a tremendous job in building an Administration that is truly for the people. From his repositioning of Healthcare in the State to his investments in Education, he has made social Infrastructure a primary goal (and has succeeded) in improving the lives of millions of citizens in Jigawa.
“Governor Badaru has also overseen significant infrastructural development in our great State from increased electricity access to water access for social and irrigation purposes to a further linking and expansion of our in-state road network. The agricultural revolution in the State cannot be overstated”.
Zakari stated that he will use his required experience in Engineering, Economics, Finance, and Administration to continue Governor Abubakar’s empowerment of the people and communities of Jigawa State.
On why he is the best man for the job, Zakari, a native of Daragi village in Jigawa State’s Gwiwa Local Government, said that during his time as Special Adviser, he has attracted multibillion naira projects to the state, including the Gumel General Hospital Mini-Grid, the rehabilitation of the “Kan Dam” Road in Kazaure, and the soon to start Hospital and Healthcare Electrification projects for the Hadejia,
Zakari explained, “In all I have worked on 23 projects (completed and ongoing) in Jigawa State and contributed to the addition of almost N2 billion in infrastructure.”
If elected governor, the contender said he will revolutionize the state with ground-breaking infrastructure projects, starting with the development of 1MW to 5MW solar hybrid electricity mini-grids in each local government area and ensuring 24-hour power supply across the state’s five emirates.
He also vowed to construct one industrial cluster every Emirate, based on the Gagarawa model established by the Badaru Abubakar administration.
Zakari said, “If elected Governor of Jigawa State, I will leverage on the road network built and rehabilitated by the Badaru Abubakar Administration to establish a mass transit scheme of buses and light rail in our major Emirate Headquarters. Also, I will expand cash crop production Ilke Gum Arabic to complement the massive increase in food crop production’ overseen by this Administration, increase Jigawa’s export earnings.”
He went on to say that he will work with the River Basin Authorities to enhance arable land design and use technology through solar-powered irrigation.
Zakari, who is also the Santuraki of Kazaure, is the Buhari administration’s youngest cabinet member, serving as Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure.
