From Garba Abdullahi Bagwai, in Kano
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Fagge Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Habibu Sale Mohammed, has promised to provide effective, accessible and accountable representation if elected.
Sale Mohammed made the pledge while formally declaring his candidacy as political campaigns commenced in accordance with the law.
He said his decision to contest was driven by the need to provide stronger advocacy and representation for the people of Fagge Constituency.
According to him, residents of the constituency face challenges ranging from youth unemployment and inadequate economic opportunities to poor infrastructure, sanitation, healthcare and social services.
“I am not here merely to announce my candidacy. I am here to present myself to you as a servant, a representative and a voice for our people,” he said.
The candidate, who is a former Chairman of Fagge Local Government Area, said his experience in public service had prepared him to understand the challenges facing the people and develop practical solutions.
He said, if elected, he would prioritise education and human capital development through advocacy for improved learning environments, skills acquisition, vocational training, digital education and scholarships.
On youth empowerment, Sale Mohammed promised to promote initiatives linking young people with entrepreneurship, technology, vocational skills, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
He said his administration as local government chairman introduced various empowerment programmes for young people, which, he claimed, demonstrated that providing opportunities and support could enable youths to become self-reliant.
The NDC candidate also pledged greater economic empowerment for women through skills acquisition, small-business support, cooperative development and improved access to markets.
He claimed that more than 3,000 women benefited from various home-based trades and vocational skills programmes during his tenure as Fagge local government chairman.
On healthcare, Sale Mohammed Mai lemo promised to advocate for stronger primary healthcare services, improved maternal and child healthcare and better support for vulnerable families.
He said two primary healthcare centres were developed during his tenure as chairman, while essential facilities were also provided across PHCs in the local government.
He added that, if elected, he would push for the upgrading of selected primary healthcare centres where necessary.
The candidate further promised to focus on infrastructure and environmental development, including roads, drainage, water supply, sanitation, waste management and street lighting.
He noted that Fagge’s strategic position as a major commercial centre in Kano required government to pay greater attention to infrastructure because of the volume of commercial and human activities in the area.
Sale Mohammed also pledged to promote transparency and accountability by establishing channels through which constituents could communicate their concerns and receive updates on legislative activities and constituency interventions.
He urged politicians and supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully, saying political differences should not destroy the relationships among residents.
“We can disagree politically without becoming enemies personally,” he said.
Explaining his decision to contest on the platform of the NDC, Sale Mohammed said the party represented his desire to contribute to a political platform that promotes democratic values, accountable leadership, inclusion and the interests of ordinary citizens
The candidate appealed to youths to reject the idea that their role in politics was limited to attending rallies, carrying posters or defending politicians on social media.
He urged them to aspire to become entrepreneurs, professionals, innovators, community leaders and decision-makers.
