Grace Egila
Six Gubernatorial Candidates have on Monday committed to Citizen–Led Charter of Demand in Kano State.
The Gubernatorial Candidates are Engineer Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Mallam Ibrahim Khalil of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Engr. Bashir Ishaq Bashir of the Labour Party (LP).
Others are Alh. Bala Muhammad Gwagwarwa of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alh. Salihu Tanko Yakasai of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Mallam Ibrahim Sha’aban Sharada of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), who was represented by Rabiu Bako.
Their commitments were made during a one-day Policy Dialogue and Agenda Setting on Governance, Health, Education, and other development issues organized by Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) in collaboration with Kano Open Government Partnership (OGP), and the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), held at Babale Suites, Nasarawa GRA.
The gubernatorial candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alh. Sadiq Muhammad Wali and Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress (APC) were conspicuously absent at the event.
Some of the specific objectives of the dialogue include promoting issue-based campaigns among gubernatorial candidates and inculcating the spirit of doing things differently during the 2023 elections and beyond.
To encourage the candidate to prioritize health security policy, education, governance, and revenue generation in their party manifestos, and to further engage successful candidates to ensure the implementation of the recommendations as contained in the advocacy tool in 2023 and beyond.
And to obtain their commitments on all the thematic areas as contained in the citizen-led charter of demand in the state.
In his speech, the President of Kano Civil Society Forum, and Head of the Secretariat, Kano Peace Committee, Amb. Ibrahim Waiya said the engagement is very strategic and carefully thought out, as this is the first time it is happening in Kano since the return to democracy in 1999.
He said: “This interface between the great personalities amongst which, one is anticipated to occupy the number one seat in the state come 2023 is important to citizens, development partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders in the state.
“The significance of this meeting is to avail us with the opportunity to get closely acquitted with our potential political leaders.”
Amb. Waiya equally thanked the leadership of OGP, the Kano Peace Committee, and other collaborating partners for joining to organize this historic event.
“I assure you of the cooperation of the CSOs in Kano to work with any of the candidates that emerged as the governor of Kano state after the 2023 general elections.
“We shall avail ourselves to be at the service of our state for the betterment of citizens, and work in harmony as partners, he added.
In his goodwill messages, the representative of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Hamza Abdullahi Hassan encouraged candidates to do more and do things differently in the state.
“There is a need to do much more in the health sector in order for us to have healthy mothers and children in Kano state, he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary of Hasken Kano Platform, Tahir Mahmod Sali said: “For us to have a developed state, the candidates must remain committed and use all the development charter organized by citizens in the state as a strategic advocacy tool.”
The Chairperson of Universal Health Coverage Forum, Chief Mrs. Moji Makanjuola commended the effort of the organizers and urged any candidate who will eventually emerge as the governor to remain committed to the citizens-led charter of demand.
She also encouraged the candidates at the policy dialogue to change the dynamics of bad governance come 2023.
During the presentation on Articulating some of the thematic areas from the Citizens–Led Charter of Demand on Political Front Burner, the speakers who include Dr. Kabiru Kura who represented KanSlam, Abdulrzaq Alkali, Co-Chair, Kano OGP, Dr. Abdulsalam Kani, Executive Director FiDac all gave an overview of each sector, their development milestones, various challenges and expectations on all the thematic areas.
A panel discussion session at the event dwells on establishing some key priorities and obtaining commitments for some enhanced prioritized sectors in the state.
Responding, everyone last of the six gubernatorial candidates spoke extensively on Health Security Policy, Education, Governance, and Local Revenue Generation.
While delivering their manifestoes, the one that stood out from all the candidates is the prioritization of the health sector, no matter how little the revenue generated.
They all pledged to improve on the releases to budgetary allocations in the state.
The high point of the event was the presentation and signing of the Citizen-Led Charter of Demand by the gubernatorial candidates; they took copies home for careful study ahead of implementation.
The event had civil society advocates, CSOs, Professionals, representatives from academia, Women and Youth groups, Trade Union representatives, Students, and the Media.
