AC Patriotic Volunteers, a group within the opposition All Progressives Congress in Kano state, has insisted that it will not stop in its plan to form a “shadow government” to checkmate the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf in the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that at a press conference in Kano on Saturday, Usman Alhaji, its National President, had said the action was to point out “failure” of Mr Yusuf’s administration to put Kano on the right direction.
According to Mr Alhaji, the group is planning to assign its members to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to monitor their activities and make “constructive” criticism that would prompt the government to do the needful.
In a swift reaction to the claim, the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, said the statement was not only a desperate and politically motivated scheme but also a dangerous move with serious social and legal implications for the entire state and Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to Mr Waiya, democracy does not permit anyone to lose their sense of judgment simply because they have lost relevance within their party’s political structure.
But in a statement in Kano on Friday, the group insisted that the action was necessitated by its “resolute commitment in the spirit of democracy and constructive engagement”.
In the statement, signed by its spokesman, Saleh Kwaru, the APC Patriotic Volunteers said its plans to form the shadow government was for the betterment of the state and its people, expressing belief that it would play a crucial role in achieving the “goals and noble objectives.”
“We reiterate our resolute commitment to this initiative in the spirit of democracy and constructive engagement.
“We remain dedicated to working for the betterment of Kano State and its people, and we believe that we will play a crucial role in achieving these goals and noble objectives,” the statement added
The group insisted that its plan was to scrutinize the policies and actions of the state government by providing valuable insights and alternative solutions that could benefit the people of the state.
“The Commissioner’s assertion that “the group’s intention to form a shadow government in Kano State is a dangerous move with serious social and legal implications for the entire state and Nigeria’s democratic system” is unfounded, baseless and undemocratic.
“We challenge the Commissioner to provide concrete evidence to support this claim. Our goal, as true democrats, is not to undermine the government but to constructively contribute to the governance of Kano State.
“We intend to do this by scrutinizing the policies and actions of the current administration, thereby providing valuable insights and alternative solutions that can benefit the people of Kano.
“We believe that it is our basic right to demand for good governance as a way of enhancing the democratic process by fostering healthy debate and encouraging the government to be more transparent and responsive to the needs of the citizens.
” It is our firm belief that constructive criticism and alternative viewpoints are essential for the growth and development of any democratic society.
“Furthermore, we would like to remind the Commissioner that the establishment of a system of this nature is legitimate. It is therefore not an act of rebellion or defiance,” the statement added.
“Our initiative on this system is rooted in our commitment to democracy, transparency, and accountability.
“This concept is well-established in democratic societies around the world not only in the United Kingdom but in many countries that practices both the Parliamentary and Presidential System of Government.”
