By Yemi Monday
A Kano based political pressure group known as, ‘Youths for Promoting Democracy and Good Governance’ has expressed its readiness to drag Sen Ibrahim Shekarau to court if he makes good, his decision to reject his election as a Senator.
Ibrahim Shekarau, a former Governor of Kano state was elected as a Senator under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to represent Kano Central Senatorial District.
He earlier picked the NNPP Senatorial ticket but later dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over disagreement with NNPP leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to remove his name from the ballot paper neither did they accept the replacement by NNPP based on the electoral act.
The group in a press statement signed by Comrade Shehu Mustapha, its Spokesperson stated that, “It’s high time we stopped murmuring in the comfort of our rooms and take to the streets in protest against Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s refusal to accept his landslide victory at the just concluded senatorial election as announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).”
According to Shehu Mustapha,”When we were casting our votes on the voting day, we did it knowing that we were casting our votes for the NNPP, not any other person with questionable character but rather for the gentleman who changed our lives for the better when he had the opportunity of governing Kano State for two terms at a stretch.”
He added that, “Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau in his current position as Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, has brought several developmental projects to his constituency and provided his constituents with federal appointments (white-collar job offers) to a large number of people unlike his predecessor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso who brought not even a cinder block throughout the four years he wasted in the upper chamber.”
“In fact, even the road that leads to Kwankwaso village was built by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau. Hence, we are calling on the people’s Senator not to dice with our lives by refusing to succumb to the yearnings of the masses who came out enmasse and cast their votes for him under the scorching sun last Saturday, February 25th,” he added.
The Group’s Spokesperson further stated: “We want him to remember that he is neither representing himself nor the people of Kano Central but the entire people of Kano State. Should he fail to heed to these clarion calls from different apolitical people and non-political organizations within and outside Kano Central, we will take to the major streets in Kano and finally storm his Kano and Abuja resistances until he does the needful.”
He stressed that,”We are very determined under our association popularly known as Kano Youths for Promoting Democracy and Good Governance to take this drastic and coercive measure to make sure the former Minister in whom we repose confidence respect our collective interest of his constituents.”
Shehu Mustapha added that,”In the end, we would want to call on the good people of Kano State to come out upper Saturday, 11th March and cast their votes for the APC gubernatorial candidate and the incumbent Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna for he has all the sterling qualities needed in a leader even in the advanced democracies.”
He concluded stressing that,”Our association is just after good governance and not the candidate (s) fielded by the political parties. We are not married to any political party but rather credible people with impeccable characters.”
