From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau
“Empowering women and youths is part of my mission as the chairman of this local government, because I have been made to understand that doing this to these two categories of people is the only solution to their problem and no responsible leader will allow them to suffer and it helps in no small measure towards boosting the economy of any state and even a nation globally,” explained the chairman of Gusau Local Government of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abubakar Imam while speaking to The Authority in an exclusive interview in Gusau, the capital of the state .
According to the chairman, carrying women and youths along will help leaders at any level to successfully lay a positive foundation of any development having constituted over 70% of the populace, adding that his council will continue to leave it’s doors open to everybody especially to those with good advice on how to move it forward.
Alh. Abubakar Imam also stated that they have not come to the office to witch-hunt anybody as many people earlier before now thought, but rather to join hands together with a view to moving the local government forwards.
The chairman narrated that both the local government and the state need helping hands from all and sundry, particularly the stakeholders to embark on prayers for God’s intervention in respect of the ugly situation in which the people found themselves.
“It is a known fact that we have a situation in our hands and this problem is no other than the insecurity. So at this juncture, I am appealing to all across not only my Local Government but entire state, to as a matter of fact leave all ill feeling and unite to collectively face the challenger currently, the government of the State is doing everything possible within it’s reach to ensuring that people across the state sleep with their two eyes closed and therefore the hands of everyone is needed as government alone cannot do it. This is an issue to do with security, it is everybody’s business,” Imam added.
Speaking further, Abubakar Imam maintained that as part of its effort towards sanitizing the local government politically and economically the council will soon constitute a committee that will be shouldered with the responsibility of the education of youths. “Very soon, we will set up a committee responsible for youth’s education, in order words, we shall make sure that these youths have all gone back to school to further their education in any of the institutions of learning across the country because to give them education is far better than to give 1 billion naira, because it has been tested in this state and others and eventually failed, it only led to the increase of crime.
As everybody knows, continued the chairman, education is the bedrock of every development anywhere in the world and it’s importance cannot be over emphasized and no amount of money is too huge for it’s endurance and we fully committed to it.
Meanwhile, the local government has inaugurated a 22 – man transition committee for effective and proper handing and taking over of the affairs of the local government.
The committee, according to the chairman was given two weeks within which to submit it’s report for further action and progress.
Alhaji Imam who charged the committee to discharge it’s duties with all honesty also said the constitution of the committee was not meant to witch-hunt or intimidate anyone but rather to find ways of of forging ahead with the administration. We have not set this committee to hurt anyone, but as everybody knows, it is a normal exercise whenever there is change in government and all we need is to know what the local government owns before and now, as well as other liabilities upon it’s shoulders among others, “he added.
The committee has Alhaji Adamu Jabbi as chairman while Alh. Adamu Hamisu will serve as the secretary.
