From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Kano, Bashir Ishaq Bashir has described as insincere, the promise and propagation of free education by politicians.
According to him, it is not feasible to run the educational sector free of charge, considering the expenses required to ensure qualitative education.
He urged parents to remain financially committed in the education of their children, insisting that it is impossible for government to run the education sector alone, without the usual financial support by parents.
He recalled that even as he lost his father while still a young boy, his mother sold her refrigerator and bed to sponsor his education.
He described the idea of free education being propagated by various politicians seeking votes from the public as deceptive and unachievable.
He stated this while responding to questions at the 2023 Town Hall meeting with governorship candidates in Kano on Saturday organized by the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS), Bayero University Kano.
The candidates all agreed on the aspects of ensuring democracy at the local government level, security, healthcare delivery, poverty alleviation and free education, the LP candidate opposed the issue of making education free.
In the two-day event which was attended by other Kano governorship candidates that include the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), the Labour party governorship candidate disagreed with all the other party candidates insisting that if education is made free it will never be efficient and standard.
“Free education is not feasible because if it is free it will suffer neglect and will not be good enough. There is a saying that you only find free cheese in the mouse trap.
“For there to be good education, the parents and the authorities must play roles.
“Education can be subsidized to those who cannot afford it but cannot feasibly be made free” he stated.
Responding to questions on how orphans are neglected and engage in lawlessness he explained that he too lost his father at an early age “my mother sold her refrigerator and bed to sponsor my education” promising that they will be catered for.
Responding to a comment by a participant that identified himself as a Kwankwasiyya supporter, Bashir blamed the Kwankwasiya supporters condemning the governor Abdullahi Ganduje led government saying, all they accuse Ganduje of doing were the same things done by their leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and only differ in the mode of operation.
In the vote of thanks delivered by the Director CDS, Prof Habu Muhammad, he promised that the centre will conduct another town hall meeting 100 days after any of the gurbernatorial candidates might have been sworn in to confirm if he is on track.
The governorship candidates in attendance have all submitted copies of their manifestos to the CDS.
