The Kano State Government has cautioned the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) against establishing a parallel elders’ council, saying the initiative would duplicate an existing framework already set up by the state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had, on January 14, 2024, announced the creation of the Kano Elders Advisory Council (KEAC) to serve as a neutral, non-partisan advisory body to the government. The council’s membership, yet to be inaugurated, comprises former governors, deputy governors, speakers of the State Assembly and House of Representatives, retired Supreme Court and Appeal Court justices, former chief judges, grand khadis, secretaries to the state government, heads of civil service, traditional rulers, business leaders, Islamic scholars, and retired security chiefs.
Tensions arose recently after the ACF announced the formation of its own elders’ advisory council, reportedly including two former governors — Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau — along with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril and several other prominent figures.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stressed that there was no need for a separate forum, urging all stakeholders to align with the existing KEAC structure.
“The Council is designed to serve as a neutral, non-partisan, and apolitical platform that operates on wisdom, experience, and knowledge for the benefit of Kano State.
“We warmly invite all organizations, individuals, and groups to work within the already established framework”, the statement read.
The government emphasized that the KEAC is intended to unify diverse voices, foster collaboration, and provide strategic guidance on matters of governance and development. Officials reiterated that the administration remains committed to its open-door policy and seeks synergy with all partners to promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the state.
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