By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Borno State Chapter has accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of frustrating the peace accord, which is capable of plunging the state into wanton violence and disruption of the emergent fragile peace.
The Borno State Chairman of NNPP, Mohammed Mustapha, stated this in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday in Maiduguri.
He said: “It is alarming to note that no other group is leading this mundane and archaic politics of bitterness other than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its government under Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. A man who has been promoted as the people’s governor. ‘
”It may interest the general public to note on Friday, January 20th, 2023, a second peace accord was signed by all the political parties, their leadership and candidates to demonstrate our readiness to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct peaceful, hitch-free and violence-free 2023 general election.
”That singular action, as organized by the National Peace Committee headed by the Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, gave all well-meaning Nigerians the confidence of having yet another democratic progress that will reflect the overwhelming wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.
”It is disheartening to say that we, the people of Borno state, having crept out of one of the ugliest insurgencies in recent times across the globe, may not benefit from the dividends of the Peace Accord signed by our leaders and elder statesmen of high repute. This is mainly due to the actions and negative body language of the ruling APC and its government in Borno state.
”The likes of political sages, like the Late Waziri Ibrahim of blessed memory, who was the proponent of “Politics Without Bitterness”, will be turning their grave in the face of the cruel politics being perpetrated in the state that once prides itself as the Home of Peace.
”We, the members of the NNPP, have been on the front burner of the victims of the political violence of the APC and its hired political thugs in recent times.
”On Friday, January 20, 2023, the campaign billboards of our Presidential candidate, His Excellency Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and that of the Borno Central Senatorial candidate, His Excellency Attom Magira Tom, were violently attacked and destroyed in strategic locations across the Maiduguri Metropolis and other major communities within the constituency.
”This attack on our campaign structures was coming barely two weeks after similar destruction was carried out on the same number of billboards. As law-abiding members of a party whose principles have resonated with the electorates, we did not call for counter-violence. Instead, we urged our teaming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while the leadership of NNPP reported the matter to concerned security agencies.
”The Friday incident of an attack on our billboard was carried out in a coordinated fashion on the night of the very day we replaced our duly authorised billboards.
”It is even more saddening to note that the APC and its thugs did not only destroy our billboards, but they also went ahead to replace the banners on them with those of some of their own APC candidates even though we have paid the Borno state government all the required fees for the advertisement permit. ”
The statement added ”,For the avoidance of doubts, we want the public to fact-check our claims by visiting the West-End Roundabout, the Dandal Police station Roundabout, the Post Office Roundabout, Opposite Metro Police Division, the Adjacent Government College Maiduguri, Adjacent FGC Monguno, Adjacent Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Airport Roundabout, LM Bakery Junction at GidanMadara, Bulunkutu Yan-Nono, Bama Road/Lagos Street Junction, Adjacent UBA along Sir Kashim Road, and host of many other places to verify our claims. ”
”We want to kindly remind the general public that this attitude of violence by the APC and its government did not start today.
”It was on record that on August 25, 2022, the Borno state Secretariat of our great party NNPP was, in the most shameful manner, sealed by the Borno state Urban Development Board on the directives of the state governor. That incident happened about three days to the day the National leader and presidential candidate of the NNPP, His Excellency Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was expected to visit the state and commission the Secretariat.
”On the same day, our Senatorial Candidate, and party leader in Borno state, His Excellency Attom Magira Tom, was unlawfully arrested and detained by the Nigeria police for many hours simply because he showed up at the Secretariat to find out what was going on.
”Similarly, on August 28, 2022, when our Presidential candidate visited Maiduguri to launch our party, NNPP, his convoy was brutally attacked on the way to the airport, and not less than ten of our vehicles were vandalised.
”All these unfortunate happenings are going on in our state at a time when the state is governed by a University Professor and member of the National Institute, who is supposed to be an intellectual and above board.
”In light of these ugly trends, coming weeks of the conduct of the general election, we call on the INEC to take disciplinary measures against the violation of the Electoral Act by the APC and its government.
The NNPP chairman, further said the party is worried that most of the destruction perpetrated on our billboards by the APC was done at locations where the offices of the security agencies are located, and nothing was done to prevent its continuous recurrence.
He, therefore, called on the APC-led government under Governor Zulum to call his party members to order, as there is a limit to indiscretion. We will continue to call our members to order but will not tolerate further onslaught on our party campaign structures,” the statement stated.
Borno APC party Chairman reacts to NNPP accusation
In a swift reaction through telephone conversation with journalists in Maiduguri, the State Chairman, APC, Borno State Chapter, Hon Ali Bukat Dalori, insisted that, “the NNPP is crying foul on the crushing victory by the APC-led government under the leadership of Governor Zulum, who in the last three and half years, was able to put smile on the faces of Borno people through dividends of democracy and inclusiveness.”
Dalori further argued that, the NNPP is concocting lies against the ruling APC, stressing that the APC and its teaming supporters are peace loving individuals who are poised to ensure Borno sustain its developmental strides under the good leadership qualities of Governor Zulum.
Meanwhile, our correspondent observed that the NNPP bill boards and posters mounted at strategic locations along major highways and roads by the NNPP candidates have been destroyed despite earlier warning by Governor Zulum that on no condition should anybody frustrate or humiliate any politician in the opposition parti.
It will be also recalled that Governor Zulum had frowned at the manner and way political thugs and supporters of the APC ruling party misbehaved during electioneerng campaigns in the state recently, which has threatened the relative peace Borno state is enjoying and making efforts to stabilize.
Leave a Reply