The Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Zamfara Command, Muhammad Muazu, has cautioned youths in the state against being used as instruments of violence during the general elections.

The warning was contained in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ikor Oche, on Sunday in Gusau.

Muazu who met with youth organisations on Saturday, said as leaders of tomorrow, the youths should not succumb to the prompting of unpatriotic elements to jeopardize their future and destabilise the state.

He said that no nation would progress without the active and positive contributions of its youth population.

The commandant, therefore, advised the youths to be law abiding and desist from any form of restiveness, protest or any action capable of jeopardising the peace of the society.

Muazu also cautioned against hiding behind the current scarcity of fuel and Naira notes to foment trouble for cheap political goals.

He said that the corps has been empowered to protect critical infrastructures and would not fold its arms to allow anyone to breach the peace and security of the state.

Muazu, therefore, appealed to the youths not to nurture any thought of attack on any public and private infrastructure, as that will not be tolerated.

Bashir Garba, who spoke on behalf of the organisations, pledged that youths in Zamfara would remain law abiding and ensure peace before, during and after the general elections.

He said that the National Youth Council of Nigeria, which is the umbrella body of youths organisations, would not be part of any violent protest whether due to shortage of Naira notes and fuel, or in support of any political party.

Mr Sani Aliyu, Director Youths in the state Ministry of Youths and Sports, commended the NSCDC for the novel interface with the youths.

He said that the ministry would continue to develop the youths and mentor them to be responsible citizens.

Also, Ibrahim Musa Maizeri, Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, said that the union would strive to nip the menace of fake news, and help to educate the youths to be agents of positive change in the society.

NAN/N.O

The Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has promised to restructure Nigeria’s economy, education, Security, agriculture and health sectors if elected.

Senator Kwankwaso made the promise at the 2023 Presidential Debate, organised by Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) in collaboration with Broadcasting Oganisation of Nigeria, (BON) held in International Conference Center, Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.

Education
Senator Kwankwaso, who described education as his trademark promised to build five hundred thousand class rooms in four years if elected as the President of Nigeria.

“Every child must go to school. Education must be a priority, Education is our trademark that is our strength. Every child must go to school. Education must be a priority… we will improve the quality of teaching, make it attractive and for teachers to have confidence in government,” he added.

Speaking on his main goals for Nigeria and how he intends to achieve them, Senator Kwankwaso said every sector in the country needed urgent attention.

“What we require in this country today is a leader that will assemble the best hands, the best brains to tackle the issue head on and I believe within the shortest possible time with a good leadership in this country, we should be able to reach our goals.”

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso stated that Nigerians should consider him as the best candidate among all the other presidential aspirants based on his credibility, readiness and ability to handle the affairs of the country.

“I am a well prepared person for the Job, in terms of qualification, Health, capacity and experience. Of course the issue of integrity is very critical because that is what is lacking in most politicians in this country right from councillorship to presidential, because to prepare yourself to be a candidate to win you need to do a lot of sacrifice that is what you have done over the years to the extent that if you add my seventeen years as a civil servant in Kano plus thirty years in Politics getting to forty-seven or more years and I am still standing and I thank Almighty God,” Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, said

Job Creation
On NNPP’S plans for boosting the economy and creating jobs, and reducing debt burden in the country, Senator Kwankwaso affirmed that he will apply the best mechanisms he adopted during his time while he was a Governor of Kano State North-West, Nigeria, in addressing such challenges.

”We have two approaches, first is direct employment and we will also provide enabling environment that people will use to create Jobs,” he explained.

“There is so much money in this country. We have proved it in Kano State. Within four years we were able to do that. Most of the towns and villages have been electrified in Kano State and we did that without borrowing. I will do an improved version of what I did in Kano State. It will start with me because as long as you are soiled you do not have the right to say do not steal. The President must be upright and it goes down to the civil service. There is so much money in the country to carter for all of us”. The NNPP Presidential candidate stated.

Health Insurance
The Presidential Candidate of NNPP added that, he will empower every Nigerian with Health Insurance Scheme and also tackle the issue of brain drain of health workers in the country by creating a conducive environment for them to stay and work in Nigeria.

“Health Insurance is the way out and Nigerians must be empowered. Other bottle necks established by private establishment has to be removed. We want to get doctors to satisfy our needs and use them for foreign export” He explained.

Senator Kwankwaso also expressed his readiness to “work with the United Nations, the EU, and other African countries to ensure that Nigeria gained its respect at the international community.”

The former Kano State Governor said he will engage the Nigerian Youths through gainful employment in tackling insecurity, growing the economy, agricultural development among others.

Senator Kwankwaso said that Nigeria has enough human resources to develop the country therefore he will “employ young men and women, engage them and train them” in order to tackle most of the country’s challenges.

Voice of Nigeria reports that The Presidential Candidates of the People’s Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Labour Party’s Peter Obi were absent from the debate.

Presidential debate was aimed at sensitising stakeholders and citizens on peaceful, informed and accountable democratic participation and also help Nigerians to make informed voting choices ahead of the 2023 general elections.

N.O

The Obi-Datti Campaign, under the Labour Party, on Sunday blamed the absence of its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, at the presidential debate on aircraft’s technical challenges.

Mr Diran Onifade, Head of Media, Obi-Datti Campaign Council, said this in a statement while explaining Obi’s absence at the presidential debate organised by Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) in Abuja.

“The Obi-Datti Campaign hereby states that our candidate, Mr Peter Obi, was unable to attend the debate programme following the advice of the technical crew of the aircraft he was travelling in.

“After an engagement in Akure, Ondo State, he meant to head for Abuja for the debate but was advised otherwise due to technical issues with the aircraft which made the Pilot decide to head for Lagos instead.

“It must be noted that in anticipation of Mr Obi’s arrival, senior members of the campaign and the party had gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, venue of the programme.

“They included the Director General of the Campaign, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, Campaign Manager, Ambassador Oseloka Obaze, as well as Labour Party functionaries, including Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman and Alhaji Audi Mohammed.”

NAN/N.O