As political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Niger State, youth and political groups have called for the emergence of a mature, credible and widely respected leader to steer the affairs of the state.
A youth group, Kolo Magba Association in Wushishi Local Government Area, said Niger State must move away from what it described as “money-bag politics” and focus on competence and experience.
In a statement signed by its leader Abdullahi Maina and made available to newsmen, they suggested that only successful retired civil servants should be allowed to contest governorship positions, while “money bags politicians” should focus on state and National assembly positions.
The group appealed to the federal government to come up with a policy that would allow successful retired civil servants to contest for such a position saying, “This no doubt will ensure decency by restoring acceptable democracy instead of making money bags take over governance”.
They urged political parties to prioritise integrity and administrative capacity in choosing candidates adding,” leadership should not be about wealth but about proven ability and discipline” .
The group maintained that only seasoned retired civil servants should be encouraged to contest governorship positions, arguing that this would restore decency and credibility to the democratic process.
Similarly, the Arewa G19 Forum in a statement signed by it’s National Public Relations Officer ( PRO) , Comrade Liman Suleman, warned against the dominance of wealthy politicians in governance, adding that the state needs leaders with tested administrative experience as the 2027 contest approaches.
Suleman, said many “money bags” lack understanding of public service. “People who have not served in government do not fully understand what citizens go through,” he said.
