By AbdulSalam Muhammad,  Kano
August 6 marked a significant shift in the relationship between the ruled and the rulership in Kano as over nine million citizens for the first time in Kano’s recent history got the opportunity to listen to the account of the stewardship of the their number one citizen, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and as well ask questions on the policy and programmes of the government.

Interestingly, the whole concept of a meeting with an incumbent chief executive of a state at a town hall for the purpose of interaction with the citizen and beamed live across the airwaves was strange to the entire North because of the region’s conservative approach to issues of common concern.

Alhaji Farouk Dalhatu, General Manager, Freedom Radio, Kano

This happened recently courtesy of Freedom Radio, a private outfit indigenously owned by a son of the soil, in conjunction with Germany Korad Adenaur Foundation. The initiative exploited the legendary listening culture of the people and organised the first town hall meeting that had in audience various interest groupings in the society and accredited representatives of the less- privileged.

Freedom Radio established in 2003 had within the last few years of existence created a platform for the voiceless and had equally made the  government  in Kano and neigbouring states of Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna accountable to the people through its political X-ray magazine programme.

Prior to the 2011 general elections, the private station organised the first gubernatorial debate among the then contending candidates from major political parties that gave them the opportunity to show case their programme and in the event assisted the electorate to shape their opinion on candidates of  choice.

In the wake of the post- election of violence, as part of effort to entrench peace in the state, Freedom Radio organised a mini-summit that assembled political leaders, Islamic clerics, and opinion leaders to discuss the remote causes of the uprising and proffer solution to avert future occurrences.

The private radio station in concert with Democratic Research Institute and with the support of DFID and Germany Korad Adenaur Foundation actually succeeded in holding the ancient city of Kano captive for four hours as part of its contribution to bridge the gap between the ruled and the rulership.

Until lately, governments in this part of the world seclude themselves from the people moments after they assume duties and only dish out what they want the people to hear as their achievement in power through the state-owned media outfits.

The meeting gave Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso the opportunity to brief the citizens on his achievement within the last 100 days in office, and the administration’s general focus in days ahead.

The panel of the first ever town hall was made up of top flight broadcasters,  seasoned journalists,  and political scientist from BUK,  who by virtue of their professional rating squeezed the best out of the incumbent Governor to the admiration of the citizens.

Indeed, the Kano town hall meeting gave the over nine million people of the state the opportunity to access and assess the leader they entrusted with their destiny some 100days ago based  on his campaign promises, mission and vision of the administration and whether the new leadership in Kano is on course.

However, the success of the interactive session with the Kano chief executive would have a far-reaching consequence on the socio-political status of the entire Northern region which is essential in the quest to entrench  democracy, accountability and good governance among leaders.

The General Manager of the Freedom Radio, Alhaji Farouk Dalhatu told Vanguard Metro, VM, that the  station understudied the environment and discovered a gulf between the ruled and the rulership.

Dalhatu maintained that they were compelled to exploit the listening culture of the people to bridge the gap through its programmes, town hall meeting by collaborating with research Institutes to achieve desired goals

The General Manager revealed that Freedom Radio would be collaborating with Bayero University Kano before the end of the year to organise an international conference to discuss ways of curtailing ethno religious crisis in the North, stressing that experts will proffer solution on ways out of the quagmire.

Alhaji Dalhatu stated that the vision of the station is to create a platform where people can air their views without recourse to violence, adding that “it’s a new dawn in relationship between the people and their leaders”.

The effect of this solo effort by a private station to make government of the day accountable to her citizens will no doubt restore confidence between the leaders and the society which in other hand will ultimately guarantee desired peace for growth and development of the people.