By; USMAN NASIDI, Kaduna
The Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru has assured students in the state that he is going to reduce the fees they pay in state-owned tertiary institutions.
Ashiru said this on Wednesday, while taking part in a gubernatorial debate organised by the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in Kaduna.
The debate had in attendance, the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Uba Sani, and that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Sule Hunkuyi.
According to a statement by Reuben Buhari, the media director of the Ashiru campaign organisation, the PDP candidate explained that with the current hardship in the state, parents of students should have been spared the burden of increased school fees that was done by the current Kaduna administration of Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
In addition, the former member of the House of Representatives said the current security challenges in Kaduna State got exacerbated by increased poverty, unemployment, and the removal of dozens of district heads by governor el-Rufai.
In his words, “these district heads are closer to the people in the rural areas. Engaging them is one strategy for tackling the insecurity in the state. But when they are not there, a vacuum is created”.
He promised that when he becomes governor, he would review the sacking of the traditional leaders.
Speaking further, Ashiru said he would also set up a specialized diagnostics center in Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa General Hospital Kafanchan, Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, and Hajia Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria.
This he explained, would make sure that patients get to know what is wrong with them as a first step towards their medical recovery process.
In addition, Ashiru said he would upgrade medical infrastructure and service delivery, while recruiting more doctors as a means of closing the doctor-patient ratio in the state.
Other issues he spoke on include strengthening rural economy, agriculture, tackling insecurity, and fostering unity in the state.
The three-hour debate saw the three candidates answering questions from both the moderator and the audience.
