Dr Isa Ali Ibrahmi Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has blamed some Islamics scholars for taking an extreme position against the decision of kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje to ban street begging.
Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje had recently announced what is seen as a controversial ban, but argued the social impact of street begging was detrimental to the ancient city of Kano.
The Minister was answering questions from news men on Friday shortly after he presented a paper at the Pre-Convocation Lecture organised by Kano State Polytechnic, at School of Technology, Kano, Friday, Africa Prime News reports.
“What I am saying about this issue is, it is not appropriate for my brothers, Islamic scholars to come forth and be challenging the governor just like that. They should come and sit together to come up with solution on how to remedy the situation, on the way out,” he advised.
“Because there is no doubt that taking those children back to school is the right thing to do. “And is beneficial to the Almajiris, their parents and the society at large. “From the part of the government, as a leader, he has the responsibility of seeing how to make his people live well.”
Pantami calls for dialogue among Islamic scholars to fashion a sustainable solution to the almajiri problem in northern Nigeria, saying “and I want to be part of any such discussion, in a group form, if it appears to be raised”.
Pantami said it was high time for governments across the north to intensify efforts to end street begging, which he described as unhealthy for the region.
