Kano State Government has clarified its position on the formation of an elders’ council following a recent pronouncement by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the matter.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government acknowledged the ACF’s intentions to create a unified platform for addressing socio-political and economic challenges but emphasized that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had already announced the establishment of the Kano Elders Advisory Council (KEAC) in January 2024.
According to the statement, efforts have since been underway to institutionalize the Council, which is expected to serve as an advisory body to the state government.
The KEAC, as designed by the government, comprises eminent figures, including former governors, deputy governors, speakers of the State Assembly and the House of Representatives, retired justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, former chief judges, grand khadis, secretaries to the state government, heads of civil service, respected Islamic scholars, business leaders, traditional rulers, retired security chiefs, and other distinguished elders of Kano origin.
The Council is envisioned as a neutral, non-partisan, and apolitical body that will harness the wisdom and experience of its members for the collective good of the state.
“The initiative, the first of its kind in Kano, is deliberately structured to serve as a forum for guidance, collaboration, and inclusive development without political ambitions,” the statement read.
The government added that in line with its open-door policy, organizations, individuals, and groups are welcome to align with the framework of the KEAC to strengthen its operations.
It further disclosed that the process of finalizing the institutional structure of the Council is nearing completion, after which Governor Yusuf will formally inaugurate the body.
The Kano State Government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and partnership, stressing its readiness to work with all stakeholders to sustain peace, progress, and prosperity in the state.
