Bashir B Muhammed
The Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), a Non-Governmental Organization, has on Sunday unveiled a Network (the Democratic Ambassadors) to hold elective officeholders accountable for their electioneering campaign promises.
The Executive Director of CAJA, Kabiru Dakata, while unveiling the network during its inceptive meeting, said the network which comprises 75 youth ambassadors across the three senatorial districts of the state was to track the campaign commitments made by elected officerholders and ensure that the dividends of democracy were delivered to the people of the state.
According to him, “CAJA is today launching a new project, Strengthening Youth Capacity to Promote Civic Engagement in Kano, a project that is being supported by MacArthur Foundation through Nigerian Women Trust Fund. The project is to change the mindset people have that Democracy is all about election.
“But there are three stages in Democracy namely pre-election, election, and post-election. But in this last stage (post-election), people often neglect this stage and don’t pay attention to it. And it is very important.
“So we felt we pay more attention to this period. Because before the elections, there were campaign promises made by the elective officeholders and since they have emerged, they have a responsibility to fulfill those campaign promises. People hardly follow up on those campaign promises or remind them about the promises.
“So that is what informed this project and to empower the youths under the project, Strengthening Youth Capacity to Promote Civic Engagement in Kano to go nooks and crannies of the state to follow up on those campaign promises.
“One aspect of the project is the formation of the Democratic Ambassadors Network (DAN).
“We have about 75 ambassadors across the three senatorial districts of the state. They are to go nooks and crannies of the state.
“The network will also expected to step down the training and enlighten the community members to be part of the process and make sure that leaders do things that will touch the lives of their constituents,” the Executive Director, Dakata said.
The Commissioner of Youth and Sport Development, Safiyanu Kachako however cautioned the youths against any form of compromise but to take the task upon themselves as their contribution to the development of the society.
He said the project will bring about responsible leadership as it will keep the elected officeholders on their toes as they will be conscious of the promises they made and fulfill them.
On his part, the President of Kano State Civil Society Forum, Ibrahim Waya represented by Hassan Gama described the initiative as a welcome development that will go a long way to bridge the gap between the elected and the govern.
However, the Kano State Coordinator of the network, Aminu Mukhtar promised to work hand in hand with all critical stakeholders in the state to strengthen democracy and ensure dividends of democracy were brought to the doorstep of the people of the state.
