By Abdullahi Yusuf
Traditional singers and musicians of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Jigawa State have boycotted all activities of the State Government, alleging neglect by the government.
The APC Artists announced the boycott through the Jigawa State APC Singers and Musicians Association at a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre, Kano, on Sunday.
“We, the Jigawa State APC Singers and Musicians hereby announce a total boycott of all activities of the Jigawa State Government because of the government’s lack of patronage of our members,”the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Lawan Gujungu Mai Babban Gandu, said.
Mai Babban Gandu said the association had directed all its members to stay away from any functions organized by the State Government until further notice.
According to him, members of the union actively partook in the electioneering campaigns that led to the election of the present APC administration in the state, alleging,however, that they were abandoned after the victory.
“We were one hundred percent involved in the electioneering campaigns that brought this Government to power, traversing the length and breath of Jigawa State, but after victory was secured, we were abandoned,” he said.
The chairman further alleged that a lot of promises were made to them including empowerment programmes and contract awards, but that such promises had not been redeemed.
“Except that during the Ramadan fast we were given palliatives worth millions of Naira, and two of our members were appointed SAs to the Governor out of the more than 100 SA’s appointed, but these are not enough.
“What we are saying is that the government needs to carry us along and patronize us so that we will be able to take care of our basic needs which include mobility, economic empowerment and medical care.
“We are more than 80 in number; many of us are farmers, businessmen and some are aspiring to elective political offices and we need capital to succeed in these ventures,” the chairman said.
He said the boycott would remain in place until the government meets with them and irons out the issues at stake.