Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Kano state chapter has cautioned governorship candidates against inciting statements.
The chairman of the Forum, Dr Goni Faruk Umar, gave the warning during an interactive session with gubernatorial candidates for 2023 elections in Kano to reduce the already rising tensions.
According to him the essence of the interactive session is to discuss with the candidates what they intend to do when they are elected.
“Part of what we have told them is that we would like them to state that when they win election, they will not interfere with the allocations of the various local governments we have.
“We asked them to lead by example and make sure none of their children or those of their commissioners go abroad for education, they should ensure that they attend public schools in order to know the problems of the education sector and solve them.
“We do not expect any governor, his deputy or commissioners to go abroad for treatment. They should ensure that they improve the health sector so that everybody can get access to good healthcare.
“We have also called on them to ensure that there is no thuggery in their campaigns so that we will have peaceful campaigns and election and they have signed an undertaken that they will not use thugs in their campaigns,” Dr. Umar said.
The forum also made case for the Almajiris and victims of drug abuse, where it demanded for a genuine plans from the candidates on how to resolve the problems.
The chairman of the session, Kamilu Fagge, said they are worried by recent political events in Kano.
“As elders who are shouldered whether we like or not with the responsibilities of ensuring peace, we cannot fold our arms and allow the unfortunate happenings in the political circle in Kano,” he revealed.
Fagge hinted that they are bringing in the gubernatorial candidates to commit them to peaceful resolutions of conduct devoid of rancour and violence.
The NNPP deputy gubernatorial running mate, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam, said they never rejected signing a peace accord, but they laid down some requests that authorities must take proactive measures against anybody violating the rules.
“We cannot sign any peace accord when clearly some people are allowed to misbehave and continue to cause tension among Kano citizens, we can only commit ourselves where we see things are done rightly without prejudice to the laws,” he said.
The Kano political atmosphere is getting heated as the NNPP and ruling APC seem to be at loggerheads.
Just recently, the State Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas was on tape saying he would not stop and that they (APC) must win the 2023 elections by hook or crook.
Other candidates who appeared before ACF executives in Kano include Ibrahim Khalil (ADC), Bashir Bashir (LP), Sadiq Wali (PDP), Shaaban Sharada (ADP), Salihu Tanko-Yakasai (PRP) and Ibrahim Sani (APM).
The candidates have submitted their blueprint to ACF executives after signing peace accord assuring their commitment to peaceful electioneering.
The engagement is expected to continue next week week with governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and deputy governor of Kano state Nasiru Gawuna.
