Concerned Members of the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) have officially dissolved the interim leadership of the forum under the leadership of Ibrahim Waiya.
In a statement on Wednesday released to newsmen from KSCF’s secretariat under the chairmanship of Abdullah Y. Sule said the decision comes in response to what they claim are violations of democratic principles and good governance within the organisation.
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KCSF, which represents over 100 civil society and pro-democracy organisations in Kano State, was established in 2012 with the mission to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, and peace and security in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
The Concerned Members expressed their deep concerns about ongoing violations of democratic principles and good governance by the current interim leadership.
One major issue raised was the extended delay in conducting democratic elections within the forum, which was initially mandated to take place within six months but had stretched to an astonishing seven years. This raised questions about transparency, accountability, and the commitment to democratic representation within the forum.
“Another alarming issue brought to light was the forceful removal of members from the central WhatsApp group of the forum for expressing dissenting views. This authoritarian approach was seen as stifling freedom of expression and undermining the essence of a civil society coalition meant to foster dialogue and inclusivity.
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“Inconsistencies and contradictions between the interim leadership and the Board of Trustees (BOT) were also cited. These included disputes over the establishment of an electoral committee versus an election strategy committee, causing confusion and discord within the organisation,” the statement said.
The Concerned Members also pointed out that the KCSF constitution, which the interim leadership frequently referred to, was still a draft and not yet adopted by the CONGRESS, making its provisions non-binding until formal adoption.
Furthermore, the growing partisanship displayed by the interim leadership was criticized for violating the core principle of impartiality and neutrality that should define a civil society coalition. It was argued that such partisanship undermines the forum’s credibility and its ability to work collaboratively with government institutions.
The Concerned Members emphasized that these violations have far-reaching implications, including undermining the forum’s credibility, advocacy capacity, and its ability to champion citizens’ rights.
They called for the dissolution of the interim leadership and urged the BOT to facilitate a congress meeting where democratically elected executives can emerge.
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The Concerned Members however called for calm and law-abiding behavior among all KCSF members during these challenging times as they continue to push for the establishment of a democratically elected leadership within the forum.
They also requested the general public to refrain from engaging with the dissolved interim leadership and direct all official matters to the KCSF BOT until new leadership is established.
