By RhemDy News
Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has named Mr Jerry Adams as his running mate.
The unveiling of Mr Adams is seen as another decision to deepen interfaith inclusion in the State that has been polarized along ethnic and religious divides.
Recall that the last Christian deputy governor of the state, late Bala Barnabas, was replaced by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his second term with Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate and deputy governor for his 2019 re-election campaign, setting up a same-faith (Muslim-Muslim) ticket.
Announcing the selection of Adams on Tuesday, Governor Uba said it was "another decisive step in our collective journey towards building a more united, peaceful and inclusive Kaduna State."
Uba noted that the decision followed wide consultations, deep reflection and earnest prayers.
He stressed that the choice was far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate, but reaffirmation of the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging which have guided his administration since May 29, 2023 when he was sworn in.
"Kaduna is a remarkable state, blessed with extraordinary diversity of faiths, ethnicities and cultures. That diversity is not a burden; it is our greatest strength. Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the heavy cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation, and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together.
"For more than three years, our administration has worked tirelessly to heal old wounds and restore confidence in government. We have deliberately ensured that the dividends of democracy reach every part of our State. Across all 23 Local Government Areas, investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture, rural development and social protection have been guided by one simple principle: no community should be left behind and no citizen should feel excluded.
"Together with our traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women and youth groups, we have strengthened the foundations of peace through dialogue, mutual respect and shared development. As security has improved, farmers have returned to their lands, businesses have expanded, investments have grown and hope has steadily replaced fear in many communities. Our experience has affirmed a simple truth: lasting peace is built not only by security measures but by fairness, inclusion and equal opportunity.
"It is in furtherance of this vision that I have chosen Mr. Jerry Adams to join me on this journey," Governor Sani said.
He described Adams as an accomplished public servant, an outstanding tax administrator and an institution builder whose leadership has transformed the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service into one of Nigeria's most respected revenue agencies.
"Through innovation, transparency and professionalism, he has helped strengthen our fiscal capacity, enabling government to invest even more in the education of our children, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical sectors that improve the lives of our people.
"Beyond his impressive professional accomplishments, Jerry Adams is a man of integrity, humility and quiet strength. He has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation and inclusive governance, believing, as I do, that Kaduna's diversity must always unite us rather than divide us.
"His emergence reflects our continuing determination to build a Kaduna where merit, competence and character remain the true qualifications for leadership", he said.
Ahead of the 2027 election, the Governor called on all citizens of Kaduna State not to see this moment through the narrow prism of religion, ethnicity or geography.
He urged them to buew this through "the broader vision of the Kaduna we are building together; a Kaduna where every child can dream without fear, every community can flourish, every faith is respected and every citizen has an equal stake in our common future."
He nited that the work of building a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Kaduna is not yet complete, "but together we have laid a solid foundation. Together, we shall continue to strengthen that foundation and hand over to future generations a State that is more united, more secure, more just and more prosperous than we inherited."
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