27 mins ago
The Secretary to Borno State Government, Amb. Baba Jidda, has raised the alarm over the activities of the members of Boko Haram sect in the state.
He said most parts of the state are now being occupied by the members of the dreaded sect.
He said because of this, the state and its people should be silent on any discussion concerning 2015 elections for now.
Apart from this, he said politicians across political divide in the country should also de-emphasize discussions on 2015 in the state or anywhere in the country in the face of rampaging onslaught by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Jidda, who stated this while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, regretted that normal governmental, economic, social and political activities have been dislocated in his state.
He also said huge numbers of displaced persons are now living in refugee camps in Maiduguri, neighbouring states as well as Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Jidda regretted that in spite of the security challenge facing the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed October 3 for a bye-election for Jere LG House of Assembly Constituency in the state.
In his prepared speech titled, “Imperatives of Peace before Politicking,’’ he appealed to all well-meaning sons and daughters of the state to jettison politicking for now for the sake of the continued existence of Nigeria and survival of democracy.
He said it would be callous for anyone to be scheming for any political office in the state in the precarious security situation in the state.
He said, “At this very moment, most parts of Borno State are being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents. Government presence and administration is minimal or non-existent across many parts of the state, with economic, commercial and social services totally subdued. Schools and clinics remain closed.
“Most settlements in the affected areas in the state have either been deserted or access to them practically impossible, thus majority of the political stakeholders cannot, in real fact reach their constituencies.
‘’So, the threat of insecurity affects everybody irrespective of*political differences. The enabling environment for politics and*electioneering campaign is simply not obtainable at present in Borno*State. In the view of many, the thought about politics and pursuit of*political interest in this environment appears absurd, callous and
morally repulsive.’’
The SSG called for a stakeholders summit of eminent citizens of North-east zone, irrespective of ethnic , political and religious affiliations, to articulate a broad-based solutions to the threat posed by the insurgents.
Source: The Punch