The Kaduna State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Dattijo, has declared his intention to succeed incumbent Governor Nasir El-Rufai in 2023.

Dattijo, who was recently appointed as an associate and founding member of Dunning Africa Center by the Henley Business School, University of Reading, United Kingdom, disclosed this on Tuesday in a Facebook post.

He wrote, “This post is to inform you of my intentions to commence a consultation process towards a run for the Kaduna gubernatorial seat in the coming elections.

Commending the state governor for allowing him to serve in his government, the former Chief of Staff said, “Over the last seven years, I have had the unique opportunity to work closely with, and support our Governor, Father and Leader- Nasir El-Rufai in his efforts to transform our dear state.

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“As even his harshest critics will accept, the period from 2015 to date is the most historic development our state has witnessed since its creation. With a front seat in government, first as Commissioner, later as Chief of Staff, and again as Commissioner; I have had the privilege to contribute to debate and to understudy the thinking behind every policy intervention and decision of the APC government.

“I am confident of my ability to sustain all that has been achieved so far and continue to Move Kaduna Forward,” he said.

He stated further that his interest in the 2023 gubernatorial election is fuelled by a desire to guarantee continuity.

He said, “As a development practitioner, I’m conscious of the danger of retrogression and the need to ensure that the gains we’ve made as a State are not reversed under whatever circumstances. I am therefore putting myself forward based on the need to ensure the continuity of excellent performance we’ve witnessed in the last seven years.”