2023: Key stakeholders harp on issues-based campaign in Kaduna

From (L) Hayatudeen Makarfi (PRP), Jonathan Asake (LP), John Ayuba (PDP) & Andrew Duya (APGA)

As the kick-off of electioneering and political activities draw near, members of the electorate and civil society organizations, in collaboration with political observers have emphasized the need for issues-based campaign towards the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The stakeholders made this known at an agenda-setting dialogue with governorship candidates in the state, organized by Partnership for issues-based Campaign in Nigeria (PICAN) supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL/FCDO) in conjunction with Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW We-You Pro).

NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kaduna state would be critical as citizens through various accountability mechanisms during  the week engaged the candidates of four political parties on issues which touch on insecurity, healthcare, poverty alleviation, education, social protection, local government administration, people living with disabilities, among others.

The four candidates that participated in the one-day political engagement include, Mr Jonathan Asake of Labour Party (LP), Mallam Hayatudeen Makarfi of the People's Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Andrew Duya of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Dr John Ayuba, running mate to Alhaji Isa Ashiru of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

First to speak was Dr John Ayuba of the PDP, who bemoaned the current security situation in Kaduna state, describing it as the greatest threat to the state. He told participants that if the PDP is given the mandate in 2023, the party would tackle the issue of insecurity frontally in the first hundred days of its administration.

"We would first and foremost, address the worsening insecurity in the state. The situation has been exacerbated by large spans of ungoverned spaces in the state, caused the unfriendly policies of the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which sacked hundreds of traditional rulers and district heads who hitherto oversaw the activities of what has come to be known today as ungoverned spaces", Ayuba stated.

Similarly, the Labour Party governorship standard bearer, Mr Jonathan Asake told the audience that his party would place high premium on insecurity before giving priority to healthcare, education, people living with disabilities, social inclusion, agriculture, rural infrastructure and the economy.

On his part, Mallam Hayatudeen Markarfi of the People's Redemption Party (PRP), regretted that most of steps taken by the current and subsequent administrations since 1999, have not brought about the desired development to move the state forward.

"The PRP is more or less a youth movement, of like minded people who have the capacity to rejig a failing system. There must be sacrifice and ours is party of sacrifice. Our policy direction would be skills-driven with emphasis on uniting the state so that we can collectively make the state viable towards productively and profitability. Without putting square pegs in square holes in the state, we would continue to lag behind", Makarfi remarked, pointing out that a PRP administration would ensure social justice to ensure that citizens believe in themselves.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Andrew Duya believes that Kaduna state's abundant human and natural resources has been mismanaged over the years, noting that with a servant leadership which his party would offer under his leadership, the state would experience unparalleled transformation.

"It is unfortunate that subsequent administrations have failed to carry the people along. Democracy is about serving the people. It's about improving the standard of living of the people", Duya explained.

According to Team Lead of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), Mr Abel Adejor, issues-based campaign must take the centre stage this time around because the era of confrontation and mundane issues in political campaigns and electioneering is over. While maintaining that the electorate must get genuine commitment of the candidates before voting candidates of their choice, he said the sole objective of PERL is to work with government and the citizens to deepen democracy and discourage voter apathy.