Bauchi APC Governorship candidate, Sadique Abubakar
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
A group, Coalition of United Civil Society Organizations in Bauchi State, has petitioned the President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call to order the Bauchi State gubernatorial candidate, Sadique Abubakar, over alleged violent intimidation of innocent residents of the state.
The letter entitled: Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s show of force and violent intimidation in Bauchi State: An open letter and dated 11th, March 2023, was signed by the Convener, Dr. Yunusa Ndargomi.
He said: “Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s campaign train has been nothing but a calamity to the good and peace-loving people of Bauchi state.
“The reasons are that: his campaign is characterized by show of force and violent intimidation on innocent citizens who, in one way or the other, showed disapproving gestures against his aspirations.
“Security attached to him have shot and killed two innocent persons in Akuyam district of Misau LGA while on a campaign tour. The reason for that act of violence remains a show of intolerance in a democratic setting.
“The same scenario happened in Gumau town of Toro LGA where thugs and security attached to him fired live ammunition into a dispersing crowd as they shouted the slogan “Bamayi” in the process injuring scores.
“Recently, security attached to him also shot about five innocent people in Duguri district of Alkaleri LGA of the state, killing one person in the process and injuring many.
“Mr. President may wish to know that, in all the above listed instances the person in question has never for once shown empathy and has neither visited the families of the victims, nor sympathize with their families or their communities.
“This has further confirmed the notion that the APC flag bearer has approved the use of violent intimidation against the innocent citizens he so desires to rule.”
He concluded by calling on the President to, “as a matter of urgency, to call Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar to order and caution the security (attached to him) to avoid being partisan in their line of duties.”
But in a reaction, the Director Media and Publicity of the Sadique Abubakar Campaign Organization, Salisu Barau, denied all the allegations and said the PDP has resorted to using Civil Society Organizations to blackmail and tarnish the image of their principal.
“The PDP in Bauchi State has failed the people due to their abysmal performance during these four years of their tenure and so they have decided to resort to blackmail, intimidation and spreading of falsehood.
“All those allegations they have leveled against the gubernatorial candidate of the APC are nothing but malicious and calculated attempts to tarnish the image of our candidate, looking at his high profile and popularity among the people of Bauchi State.
“Having now failed to convince the people of Bauchi State, they have now resorted to engaging the Civil Society Organizations to write the calumnious letter to Mr. President. I am sure Mr. President will not listen to them because he knows the undercover activities of the PDP particularly that of the Governor of Bauchi State who has hitherto, attacking the Governor from all ramifications.
“I, therefore, on behalf for f the Campaign Team of Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, wish to state categorically clear that the claims of the Civil Society Organization who wrote the letter are baseless, untrue and calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the flagbearer of the APC.”
