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Why lawmakers should not take side in Kwankwaso/Ganduje feud – Rep. Jibrin

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

Members of the House of Representatives from Kano State should not be dragged to take side in the ongoing feud between the state governor, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, one of the members from the state, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has advised.

Jibrin, in an open letter written to the two political allies, said his colleagues would, by taking side in the face-off be inadvertently escalating the crisis, which he said was instigated by supporters from the two camps to enjoy political rewards.

“Whoever ever takes side to stoke the embers of enmity in order to raze down your decades-old bond in less than a year, is neither a friend, nor supporter but political panhandler who benefits from the crumbs of the crisis,” he said

He said reconciliatory moves brokered by the concerned stakeholders should henceforth involve “key allies and supporters” of both sides as a way of containing the crisis.

“It is obvious that none of you stands to benefit from this row. The party will suffer. Both of you will be distracted. The masses will bear the brunt, and our political opponents we defeated in the past will avail themselves of our differences to advance their political cause. The lizard finds a space to penetrate through the wall when it finds a crack.

“It is evident that the crisis has gone out of hand as supporters of the either camp have owned up and taken over the crisis, and in the process diminishing your capacity to decide on reconciliatory moves,” he said.

Abia North rerun: Youths advise Kalu against litigation

From Linus Effiong, Umuahia

Chairmen and secretaries of various youth organisations in Abia North, under the auspices of Abia North Youth Leaders Forum, have written a letter to the former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu and other contestants in the last senatorial rerun election in the state to “sheath their swords and not go to court”.

Chairman of the organisation, Comrade Jasper Kelechi, who spoke to journalists in Umuahia, said Senator Mao Ohunabunwa would be voted out in 2019 if his performance was below expectation.

Kelechi said: “History was made in the state when court ordered a rerun in the senatorial district, and in every election, there must be a winner. Over the years, Abia North lacked effective representation in the Senate. However, now that someone has been elected, we call on all contestants to kindly sheath their swords and make the interest of the senatorial district paramount.”

Why Gombe yet to appoint commissioners- PDP

From Ahmed Mohammed, Gombe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has said that court litigations filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and others, challenging the victory of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo were the reasons for the delay in the appointment of commissioners.

State secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Buba Shanu, stated this while answering question from reporters in Gombe.

He said constitutionally, a democratic government is supposed to have political appointees to head ministries and parastatals, but legal tussles delayed the process in Gombe.

He, however, said both the legislature and the judiciary are intact, adding that the procedure of running a government, which lies essentially with the civil service, is also intact.

He said now that the cases were over, processes of appointing commissioners have commenced.

2019: Centre advocates more opportunities for women

From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has lamented the low representation of women in the political sphere.

Therefore, the centre is spearheading a campaign ahead of the 2019 elections to get more women elected into high positions of authority.

Director of the centre, Dr. Abiola Akiyode – Afolabi, who spoke at a media roundtable discussion on the role of the media in supporting women political participation in Lagos, said they intended to drive the campaign beginning with local government elections in Lagos State.

Afolabi noted that the current arrangement where there are few women political actors did not augur well for participatory democracy.

She noted that in 2011, out of 40, there were seven women in the Lagos State House of Assembly and that the number reduced to four in 2015.

She said in Anambra, the number of women also reduced from 8 in 2011 to 5 in 2015.

The coordinator, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka, urged media practitioners to give ample coverage for women participation in governance.