In a statement made on Saturday in Kano, Abdulrahaman Sumaila, a former senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari for House of Representatives matters, urged the federal government to take immediate action to address social injustice, marginalization, and inequality.
Sumaila made the comment at the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel conversation series for candidates for political office. Sumaila is running for the Kano South senatorial seat on the New Nigerian Peoples Party platform.
According to his opinion, social injustice and inequality are to blame for the country’s many agitations. He recalled that during his interactions with some of the agitators, particularly those from the South East, they complained of marginalization and non-inclusiveness in government programs, which influenced their choice to call for Nigeria’s secession.
He was upbeat about his chances of defeating Ibrahim Gaya, the sitting senator, in the 2023 election, noting that throughout his 16 years in the Senate, Gaya had never held a town hall meeting with his local supporters.
The senatorial contender said that the Kano South Senatorial District, which includes 16 of Kano State’s 44 local government areas, is only remembered around election time in order to sway voters and win back his seat.
He said, “The influence of incumbency is irrelevant; it won’t help you keep your Senate seat in 2023.”
