ANGO orders removal of political stand around school areas, inclusion of schoolchildren during state visits
Following the recent demise of Rahab Hassan, who was hit by yet to be identified vehicle, during Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s visit to Kumo for the signing of Public Private Partnership on the University of Science Akko Local Government, Association of Non Governmental Organisations (ANGO), on Tuesday ordered Gombe State Government to ensure the removal of political stands.
According to a press statement by the Chairman of Gombe ANGO Ibrahim Yusuf, the government should discontinue the involvement of schoolchildren, whom were used for welcoming during such governor’s visits.
The statement tagged; ‘The Increasing endangering of the precious Lives of innocent Pupils and Students in the State’, urged security agencies to within 48 hours effect the relocation of such stand to remove the wards from arms way.
The statement partly read, “We are on this press conference this morning to condemn in strong terms the continuous reckless endangering of safety and lives of pupils and students in the state.
“We observe that the activities of political actors and supporters of especially the ruling Party (APC), in the state have continue to make some school environment so unsafe, dangerous, and life threatening in the state.
The group revealed that the political stands served as harbinger for thugs and would endanger the lives of children during political crises.
“We are concerned like every other right thinking person over the conspicuous siting of a political thugs hub right at the front of the Central Primary School at the heart of the metropolis by supporters of one APC ‘Mai Katifa’.
“This is a gross careless, callous, and insensitive act that has continue to put the lives of over 2,500 Primary School Pupils, 2,000 and 1,500 Junior and Senior Secondary School Students respectively who go into the school for their educational pursuit every school day.
“Any political clash will render the whole students vulnerable as seen in all such clashes over the years, more so that the build up to 2023 General Elections will intensify such danger every passing day. In the same vein, we strongly condemn the continuous assembling of Students by the Road side, abandoning their studies in the name of VIP welcoming of the Governor’s convoy that has recently (Wednesday March 2nd, 2022), resulted to the killing of the innocent late Rahab Hassan, a 17-year old student of Government Girls Science Secondary School Kumo by the reckless convoy,” the statement said.
ANGO further described as reckless the involvement of children lamenting the consequences of such as the state prepares ahead of the 2023 General Elections, while calling on the security operatives to prevent killing of more schoolchildren.
Yusuf added, “This is unacceptable, and must be stopped! We therefore; call on all stakeholders including the Commissioner of Police, the Director State Security Service, the Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corp, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Education, the State Chairman APC, and His Excellency – the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to ensure the immediate removal of the ‘ Mai Katifa Political Stand’ from the premises of the Central School – within 48 hours to allow for Safe School for pupils and students.
“We call on the State Governor to tender public apology, and ensure compensation to the family of late Rahab Hassan with immediate effect.The lives of all students in the state should be Government’s priority as it their right to have safe schools for their learning. Hence, the need for all measures to be in place for the safety of lives and property of all citizens.”
