Emir of
Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday advocated compulsory drug test for
Nigeria’s leaders, even as he indicted politicians for using addicts as
thugs.At
the opening of a two-day Senate discussion on Drug Abuse Epidemic in
Nigeria held in Kano yesterday, Sanusi said: “If we, the leaders, political
office holders, ministers, emirs, senators and even Imams claim we are not part
of the cause of this menace, we are deceiving ourselves because we have seen
how governors parade these youths who are under the influence of drugs and move
around in their convoys for security cover.”
Sanusi, who
represented the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar, said: “You can count many
of these thugs who are on the payroll of politicians, working for them and
having access to security agencies. In fact, it is becoming profitable for
these youths to work for these politicians who give them all they want rather
than look for gainful employment. We should all be part of the solution. Any
person willing to take up public office should therefore undergo a drug test.
And if positive, should be denied the opportunity.”
The emir called
for better funding for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. He also blamed
the abuse of psychotropic drugs in the North on poverty, illiteracy and broken
homes.“You find a man who cannot care sufficiently for a wife getting married
to two or three women, producing 20 or 30 children, and sending them out to
care for themselves. This must stop. Until the government looks into family
management and punishes anybody who treats family like slaves, the war against
drug abuse might not be won,” Sanusi said.
Senate
President Bukola Saraki pledged the commitment of the legislature to the
enforcement of drug laws.Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar,
disclosed that the fight against drug abuse was beyond the capacity of the
state and called for Federal Government support.
According to
him, “Kano has the largest share of all the challenges, considering our
population and commercial base, yet we have just one rehabilitation center. The
government set up a task force. Arrests were made. Drugs worth N4.6 billion
have already been destroyed. But this has little or no effect on what is on
ground.”
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