Governor Nasir El-Rufai

Femi Adi/Kaduna

As Nigerians across the country celebrate 55 years of independence, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has declared a state of emergency in the education sector as an Independence Day gift to liberate the people from shackles of illiteracy, poverty and underdevelopment. El-Rufai who emphasized that it is only through the provision of free basic education in decent schools and with skilled teachers that citizens can feel the impact of independence, said free education for all remains one of the priorities of his government.

In the speech he delivered during the Independence Day Celebration held at the memorial Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Governor El-Rufai disclosed that the state government under his leadership has spent the past few months planning school repairs, the provision of school furniture and the training of teachers.

While acknowledging that one legacy of the rebirth of the country will be the restoration of education as a tool to free the people from the fetters of ignorance, El-Rufai urged the residents and citizens to support the government in its bid to begin to implement extraordinary measures in the educational sector. “I wish to remind us that as we liberated our country, we must also free our people by making the light of quality education accessible to all. Education is emancipation! Education is freedom from want and disease”. El-Rufai stated. He also pointed out that the opportunity given for national rebirth imposes the duty on leaders at all levels to take steps to improve the life chances of people.

Stressing, “We have a duty to improve access to jobs, education and healthcare. And we can do this only in a climate of peace and security. I urged us all to respect and uphold the humanity of others, and to foster harmony in all our little corners.” However, the governor who noted that the ordinary people of the state have not benefitted from the division, acrimony and violence that the entrepreneurs of ethnic and religious hatred have unleashed, said his government is determined to restore education as a tool to free the people from the fetters of ignorance.

He ended his speech by extending mercy to 14 prisoners in the state. According to him the gesture was done in pursuant to Section 212 of the Constitution, where the prerogative of mercy was exercised in favour of the prisoners. El-Rufai also commuted the death sentences of five convicts, who will now serve prison terms. Other five prisoners serving sentences of three years and above were released on the basis of good behavior or time served already. In addition, three prisoners were released on the basis on age while one person was released due to ill health. El-Rufai however warned that it will not tolerate crime and threats to security in the state.