2027: I will emulate Jonathan’s Almajiri policy in Kebbi – Manga
The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga has vowed to follow the foot steps of former President Goodluck Jonathan in tackling the Almajiri menace in Kebbi State. Manga who was among the successfully aspirants screened by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction of the party to contest governorship […]
The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga has vowed to follow the foot steps of former President Goodluck Jonathan in tackling the Almajiri menace in Kebbi State.
Manga who was among the successfully aspirants screened by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction of the party to contest governorship election in Kebbi State Kebbi State on Tuesday promised to go back to what President Goodluck Jonathan tried to do in 2012 to tackle the issue of Almajiri.
Addressing journalists after the screening exercise, Manga said “I was part of that government and you would recall that educational opportunities were provided for the people.
“In virtually all the states of the federation, particularly in the north, we ensured that these schools were provided for them so that directly they will be trained there, they will be educated there, and they will be provided with job opportunities.
” They will be educated there and they will be provided with job opportunities. So, unless you are trained and you are qualified, you cannot fit in the system.”
While stressing that citizens are now living in a competitive world, Manga said, “one of the things to do is to concentrate fully on education. Ensure that you mop them out there from the streets and get them trained, basically, so that they will be able to put themselves to use. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop and if you are not literate, you will not be able to fit in the system.”
He also promised to tackle insecurity and unemployment, saying that Nigerians will not vote for the ruling party with the prevailing situation in the country.
The PDP screening and appeal panels were constituted following directives of the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 104th meeting and the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC), in line with the party’s timetable for the 2027 general elections.
Under the arrangement, the committee is expected to screen 2,122 House of Assembly aspirants, 748 House of Representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants and one presidential aspirant.
Other aspirants screened were Senator Joel Ikenya, Benedict Etanabene, Sherif Abdullahi and eight others.
Senator Joel Ikenya, a former legislator and former Minister of Labour under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, is seeking the Taraba State governorship ticket.
Ikenya said his ambition was driven by the need to address poverty through agricultural development and improved healthcare delivery, noting that Taraba’s agrarian nature required focused leadership.
He also stressed that insecurity in the country required collective action between the government and citizens, saying no single institution could tackle it alone.
“Security is not an individual thing; it’s a question of both the community and the people who are in government and people who are not in government working together to see our country secure, and enable people to go to their farms.
Delta State governorship aspirant, Benedict Etanabene, after his screening, said he was proposing a governance model that would involve government directly in job creation, wealth distribution and infrastructure development, with stronger emphasis on grassroots participation.
He said development must begin from the wards, arguing that local councils should have structured funding mechanisms tied to accountability and auditing.
In Yobe State, the governorship aspirant Sharif Abdullahi identified insecurity as a major challenge but declined to disclose operational details of his strategy, describing it as a sensitive matter.
He said insecurity remained widespread and stressed that the federal government bears primary responsibility for addressing it, while assuring that his approach would build on existing efforts.
He said despite political control by the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state, some progress had been recorded in security management and representation, expressing optimism about the future.