COMMUNIQUÉ: North’s G19 makes stand on security, economy, education, election court ‘misjudgments’ {FULL TEXT}

*Says by assessment on education, others, Kano Gov Yusuf is best

 By KEMI KASUMU

The Coalition of 19 Northern States’ Students Forum, otherwise called the G19, have concluded its annual roundtable meeting with a communiqué through which it assessed developments in Northern Nigeria including security, economy and education and concluded on Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, as best state leader in the region.

The DEFENDER reports that the G19’s roundtable, held on Wednesday, had its theme as “Contemporary issues across the nation” with topic as “Matters Arising Across the Students’ Community of the 19 Northern States”.

In the communiqué signed by Chairman of the G19, Muhammad Muhiyideen and copied to the Presidency, DG DSS, IG of Police, NJC and all state Governors and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Wednesday December 27, 2023, the students forum made itself clear beyond sentiment, as it warned leaders against doing things which could jeopardize the peace of the region in any part saying, “The student community will not relent (its) hands and will not stand idle while integrity of the democratic process (is) threatened.”

On education, the Coalition said it evaluated and assessed the commitment of the Northern governors on education and came to conclusion that, “The Kano State Governor His Excellency Abba, Kabir Yusuf have been identified to be the best among his peers because of the following gestures which may certainly influence the future action of most governors in the region:

“1. Reduction of Tuition fees by 50% in all state owned Tertiary Institutions.

“2. Allocation of 29.9% of the 2024 fiscal budget to Education which is above the UNESCO budget for Education (26%).

“3. Payment of school fees to 7,000 Kano state indigenous students At Bayero University Kano, amounting to the sum of seven hundred million naira (700,000,000).

“4. Foreign scholarship to 1001 students to various countries for postgraduate programs via merits.

“5. Payment of the outstanding foreign and local scholarships left by the previous administration,” said the Coalition of 19 Northern States Students Forum in the communiqué.

On the election court alleged misjudgments it said, “We are aware that the current situation of Kano, Zamfara and Plateau states gubernatorial election cases which has a set-back for the affected states in even development. In addition, we have seen increasing cases of killings, murders and other forms of violence in the region resulting in huge loss of lives and properties.

“At this juncture, we the representatives of the students’ community in the northern states have expressed our unwavering votes of confidence in His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state and all democratically elected. We believe in his leadership and vision for the development of the state as well as other governors who are yet to settle due to pending case.

“We are therefore, calling on the Federal Government and His Excellency President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to respect the will of the people in the affected states and allow the Judiciary to uphold justice and fairness in the ongoing state governorship tussle at the Supreme courts. We urge all arms of Government to allow the conduct of all legal process without interference for the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law.

“We want to emphasize, that the leadership of the students across the northern states stands firmly in support of all the Governors of Kano, Zamfara and Plateau state. We stand united in condemning any external forces use to unduly influencing the  election tribunal verdicts.

“The student community will not relent it hands and will not stand idle while integrity of the democratic process threatened,” it said.

Full text of the communiqué below:

A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF AN ANNUAL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BY THE COLLIATION OF 19 NORTHERN STATES STUDENT FORUM ON 28TH DECEMBER 2023.

Theme: Contemporary issues across the nation.

Topic: Matters Arising Across the Students’ Community of the 19 Northern States.

We coalition of the Nineteen (19) northern state student’s forum convened for an annual roundtable discussion to deliberate on contemporary challenges affecting our region which include; Security, Economy and Educational Development.

On the issue of the Educational Development, the coalition have evaluated and assessed the commitment of the northern Governors on Education. The Kano state governor His Excellency Abba, Kabir Yusuf have been identified to be the best among his peers  because of the following gestures which may certainly influence the future action of most governors in the region:

1.Reduction of Tuition fees by 50% in all state owned Tertiary Institutions

2.Allocation of, 29.9% of the 2024 fiscal budget to Education which is above the UNESCO budget for Education (26%).

3.Payment of school fees to 7,000 Kano state indigenous students At Bayero University Kano, amounting to the sum of seven hundred million naira (700,000,000)

4.Foreign scholarship to 1001 students to various countries for postgraduate programs via merits.

5.Payment of the outstanding foreign and local scholarships left by the previous administration

We are aware that the current situation of Kano, Zamfara and Plateau states gubernatorial election cases which has a set-back for the affected states in even development. In addition, we have seen increasing cases of killings, murders and other forms of violence in the region resulting in huge loss of lives and properties.

At this juncture, we the representatives of the students’ community in the northern states have expressed our unwavering votes of confidence in His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state and all democratically elected. We believe in his leadership and vision for the development of the state as well as other governors who are yet to settle due to pending case.

We are therefore, calling on the Federal Government and His Excellency President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to respect the will of the people in the affected states and allow the Judiciary to uphold justice and fairness in the ongoing state governorship tussle at the Supreme courts. We urge all arms of Government to allow the conduct of all legal process without interference for the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law.

We want to emphasize, that the leadership of the students across the northern states stands firmly in support of all the Governors of Kano, Zamfara and Plateau state. We stand united in condemning any external forces use to unduly influencing the  election tribunal verdicts.

The student community will not relent it hands and will not stand idle while integrity of the democratic process threatened.

As representatives of students we will continue to advocate for justice and fairness in the Governance of our beloved Northern states. We call upon all stakeholders to respect the will of the people and uphold the democratic principles that guide our nation.

We want at this juncture, call on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The President of the Federal  Republic of Nigeria to put Eagle eyes on the process to ensure justice are been done in the forthcoming judgment across the nation. The president should Note that Peace and Order will only be prevail where Justice is prioritize.

On the issue of security, the Federal Government and the Northern Governors should bear that security remain paramount in our deliberations and would like to see an end of any form of violence, murder and arson. We acknowledge the efforts of various state governments in addressing security challenges within their various domains –  Katsina State governor  MAL. DIKKO UMAR RADDA and ALHAJI ABBA KABIR YUSUF.

However, we call on the government to redouble its efforts in ensuring the safety and security of lives and properties across the nation. We call for enhanced collaboration between the federal government, state governments and security agencies as well as proactive measures to curb the activities of criminal elements that threatened the peace and stability of our community.

We are aware that students of different institution across the northern states have been abducted yet the government is playing, hide and seek with the issue.

We hereby call on the federal government to do the needful whatsoever, to ensure that the students are back to their parents. So also FG should ensure security of our students in all Tertiary institutions across the northern region and the Country at large.

On the economic Front, we recognize the potential for growth and development within the northern region. We commend initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic empowerment for the youths.

We urge the governments to expand and sustain initiatives and programs while exploring Innovative strategies to attract investment and foster economic prosperity within the region.

We will remain resolute in our determination to contribute positively to the development and progress of our communities and the nation at large.

GOD BLESS NORTHERN NIGERIA!

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!

SIGNED

MUHAMMAD MUHIYIDDEN SULAIMAN

CHAIRMAN G19

Cc.

PRESIDENCY

DG DSS

IG POLICE

NJC

ALL STATE GOVERNORS