ADC not for sale, says Kachikwu, tasks govt on 20m uneducated kids

Presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2023 general elections, Dumebi Kachikwu, has warned sacked officials and others against rumour mongering, stating that the party is not for sale.

He issued the warning yesterday in Abuja during an interaction with journalists to clarify issues arising from the crisis rocking the party.

The ADC had, on Monday, inaugurated a caretaker committee, headed by Senator Patricia Akwashiki, to steer affairs of the party, arguing that the decision followed the expiration of the tenure of the party’s “former” National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Nwosu.

Kachikwu said the “change in the leadership became necessary because the previous leadership was not interested in the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.”

He, however, cautioned candidates vying for various positions in the party against selling their mandates, urging them to run their race diligently.

Kachikwu said: “Money is not everything. If you stop the mandates of the party at a time like this, that’s blood money. Unfortunately for them, man will always propose, but God will dispose. When they were trying to sell us and our mandates, they never remembered the constitution, they never knew their time was up.

“Run your race even if you get one vote, run your race, that experience is rich. You might get zero vote in this election. Never give up. One day Nigerians will hear your message. Don’t let anybody deceive you, this party is not for sale.”

BESIDES, Kachikwu called on government, at all levels, to take urgent measures at reducing Nigeria’s out-of-school children population recently put at 20 million.

Last week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with Global Education Monitoring Report, said the number of out-of-school kids in the country had risen to 20 million.

He made this plea in his goodwill message to mark the 2022 International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrated globally yesterday. With the theme, “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces.”

The ADC presidential flag-bearer also urged private education providers to redouble efforts in creating safe learning spaces in view of the destructive effects of activities of criminal elements on literacy advancement in the country.

He further charged stakeholders to maximise the celebration by rethinking the literacy within the context of building resilience and ensuring quality, equitable and inclusive education for all in Nigeria.

Kachikwu regretted that some sworn enemies have been visiting untold mayhem on educational institutions in parts of the country, killing and abducting pupils in the process.

In a statement, he said: “This is unacceptable. The primary function of government remains the security and welfare of its people. Therefore, the Federal Government has no choice, but to ensure that all victims of school abductions are freed and safely reunited with their families.

“Nigeria cannot achieve high level of literacy if schools don’t have the requisite security and conducive environment necessary for learning.”

He listed some of the factors militating against literacy in the country to include poor funding, lack of appropriate training, retraining and motivation for teachers, sex predators, insecurity and other cultural and religious practices.