Kano State government has cautioned the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) against spearheading a duplication of the purported elder’s council after the initial concept was already fronted by the government.
Although the structure is yet to be inaugurated, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had on 14th January 2024 announced the establishment of the Kano Elders Advisory Council (KEAC), with membership drawn from across all strata.
The KEAC, as conceived by Governor Yusuf, is composed of esteemed personalities, including former Governors, Deputy Governors, Speakers of the State Assembly and the House of Representatives.
Others are retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices, former Chief Judges of Kano State, former Grand Khadis, former Secretaries to the State Government, former Heads of Civil Service, respected Ulamas, leaders of the business community, traditional rulers, and retired heads of security agencies.
Concern, however, was generated a few days ago when the ACF constituted a similar elders advisory council with membership including two ex-governors, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Barau Jibril, and a host of others.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, on Wednesday insisted there was no need to regroup into a separate forum.
The statement said, “The attention of the Kano State Government has been drawn to the recent pronouncement by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the establishment of a Kano State Elders Council.
“Since then, efforts have been ongoing to institutionalize the structure for an effective take-off, which will serve as an advisory body to the Government of Kano State.
“The Council is designed to serve as a neutral, non-partisan, and apolitical platform that operates on wisdom, experience, and knowledge for the overall benefit of the people of Kano State.
“This noble initiative, the first of its kind, is deliberately conceived as a neutral body without any political ambitions, standing instead as a collective forum for guidance, collaboration, and inclusive development.
“In this regard, the State Government, leveraging its open-government policy, warmly invites all organizations, individuals, and interested groups to align with the already established framework.
“We firmly believe that by working together, we can strengthen the operations of the Council and ensure that its objectives are fully realized in the interest and common good of our people.”
The Kano State Government reiterates its commitment to an open-door policy and assures all interested partners of its readiness to work in synergy towards sustaining peace, progress, and prosperity in the State.
