Writing By Daniel Karlmax, Editing By Godwin Duru
Ahead of October nineteenth local government elections in Kaduna State, concerned citizens for good governance from Kaduna South Local Government has organized a one day media debate for chairmanship aspirants from different political parties.
The program was part of effort to partner with those candidates for them to understand that who ever emerge should consider himself the people’s chairman, and be ready to work with all stakeholders for the progress of the local government.
The convener of the program, Yusuf David Pama said the forum provided a platform for conversation around good governance, and effective service delivery between aspirants and electorate on how well they were prepared to lead the people.
He pointed out that, the media debate was geared toward giving the people more insight that would enable them cast their votes appropriately.
According to Mr. Pama, the exercise would also discourage vote buying, and ensure credibility in the system by paving the way for good governance which is the product of collective effort.
“Why we are organizing this debate is for them to come and tell us, let the people elect leaders that will lead them well, and we want the stakeholders to decide who should be the leaders in local government not vote buying, not giving us spaghetti”
“In the forthcoming elections, please any body that win, they should give him because we don’t want violence, we are looking for someone who’s credible from any party, we don’t have any party or candidate at heart yet, and that’s why we organized this debate”
“I may have a party of choice, but if you put a devil in my own party and I see an angel in another party I’ll go for that angel, no body should deceive us now, it’s about good governance, and in good governance, everybody must come and contribute his quota,” explained Mr. Pama.
Citing examples from South Africa, India, and the United States, he said nations that have progressed was the collective effort of people with like minds that made sacrifices for them to work.
“It’s enough allowing these people to just come and decide who gets there while we stand by the side, look and just complain, grumble and murmur, we are the stakeholders, we are the ones casting the vote, and we are the ones they are going to lead, if we don’t decide now who should lead us, anybody can go there, and do whatever thing he wants to do”
“We don’t want a leader that would be answerable to his political party,vwe want a leader that would be answerable to the people, power should shift to the people, and that’s the essence of democracy, that’s how they define democracy,” he said.
Yusuf David Pama lamented that, flag bearers from the three major political parties that did not avail themselves during the media debate was an indication that, they were not for the people, hence they refused to present themselves for the people to know what they could do for them if elected
On his part, candidate of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP Mr. Ibrahim Yahaya Shinkut who commended the effort of the the organizers, pledged commitment to provide inclusive leadership if given the mandate.
He identified human capital development as topmost among his priorities, saying he will work toward the productive engagement of women and youth for them to contribute positively to the growth of the local government.
The chairmanship hopeful under the platform of PRP attributed societal vices such as crime and drugs abuse among others to lack of productive engagement of youths in different field of endeavors.
The media debate was attended by stakeholders ranging from traditional and religious leaders, to women and youth among others and featured questions and answers.
Daniel Karlmax
