Kano – The CBN Governor,
Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
on Saturday advocated for
drug test for all those
seeking elective political
office, to ascertain they were
not drug addicts.
Sanusi made the call in Kano
at a three-day workshop on
anti-substance abuse
awareness campaign and
train the trainers.
The programme was
organised by an NGO, “I CARE
Women and Youth Initiative,’’
a pet project of the wife of
the Vice President, Hajiya
Amina Namadi Sambo.
‘’Anyone who wants to
contest for political office or
seeking political
appointment should be
asked to go for drug test.
‘’If you are in drug you will
not have the opportunity to
be appointed in any position
of authority in this country,’’
he said.
Sanusi, who blamed the elite
for the prevailing moral
decadence in the society,
said there was an urgent
need to examine the entire
value system in the society.
‘’Today we have created class
even among our children
and we give our children
more money than they need
and buy them expensive
cars.
‘’We see young boys and girls
moving from one office to
another looking for contracts
and when they get the
money they organise parties
and spend the money any
how,’’ he added.
The CBN governor said
governments should
continue to create
employment opportunities to
check drug abuse and other
social vices.
The vice-president’s wife
called on parents to monitor
the activities of their children
and the kind of company
they kept.
‘’It is only by so doing that
we can nip in the bud the
early warning signs of drug
abuse among our children.
‘’Unfortunately, Kano State is
said to constitute majority of
the 37.5 per cent of the total
drug victims in the North-
West Zone which ranks
highest in the country.
‘’More worrisome is the fact
that married women are said
to be actively involved in the
abuse of these substances
with a high percentage of
them discovered to be
addicted to them,’’ she said.
Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of
Kano State said the
government would continue
to partner all relevant
organisations, to check the
menace of drug abuse.
He appealed to the people to
cooperate with the
government in the fight
against drug abuse.
NAN reports that 150
trainers, made up of women,
youths, community-based
organisations as well as
community and religious
leaders are participating in
the training.
The Minister of Environment,
Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia and
wives of some state
governors attended the
programme.(NAN).