Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna has appealed to Kaduna State Governor, Mal. Uba Sani to reconsider the Inclusion of Major General Zamani Lekwot (Rtd) to the Kaduna State Elders Forum.
The group stated this in a letter signed by the National Secretary of the Group, Shuaibu Dabo said, "we are writing to express our deep concern over the recent recognition by your exalted office given to the nomination Major General Zamani Lekwot (Rtd) as a co-chairman of the recently constituted Kaduna State Elders Forum.
"We, as a people, acknowledged, appreciates and commend your resolve to operate a listening and engaging governance process where consultation with different stakeholders will be regular and engaging with resultant positive bearing on the citizens for peace, unity and development."
However, while we do so, it is worrisome to see a person who by his antecedence and action against some, appointed as a co-chairman and therefore wish to register our concern and call on the government to reconsider its decision if this Forum of elders must succeed.
The group also ensures that the role of the members of the State's Elder’s Forum is innovative and would therefore demand the highest level of public trust to make a positive impact.
"However, person like him will undermine public's confidence in the integrity of the forum and the government's genuine efforts of maintaining peaceful coexistence in a plural but injured society like ours".
"To this extent, he remains a threat to the nascent peace that we are experiencing and belabouring to sustain in Kaduna State, looking at his unapologetic and provocative unguarded media utterances and vituperations in recent times that hardly qualifies him as an elder with a foresight to tap wisdom from for our progress as a people".
They advised the government that the inclusion, or recognition of the Committee of Elders should prioritize only individuals with impeccable ethical behavious for anyone to be regarded as an elder, his/her present and past records of public and community services should be the yardstick for measuring their supposed qualification and entitlement.