By Ezeocha Nzeh
The national leadership of New Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) has described the sealing of it’s Borno state Secretariat in Maiduguri as impunity taken too far by the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government in the state
Armed security personnel suspected to be police officers on Thursday morning invaded and took over the New Nigeria Peoples Party Secretariat in Maiduguri, Borno state capital few days to unveiling of the State Office located around Abbaganaram ward of the metropolis.
It was gathered that the leadership of the party hired some labourers to paint the new secretariat ahead of the NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s visit scheduled for the next few days to unveil the secretariat, and after the work done, some hoodlums suspected to be opposition/political thugs invaded the Secretariat and pasted various posters of their candidates at strategic locations in the premises.
This did not go down well with the state leadership of the NNPP, as it mobilized the party’s supporters to remove the posters, leading to a clash between the two groups
But a government source said, the NNPP secretariat is located at a residential area of the metropolis, which led officials of the Urban Planning Development Committee to seal it after serving them with a ‘stop work notice’.
Regretting the development, a senatorial Candidate of the party for Borno Central, Hon Mohammed Attom said, “the secretariat which is about to be commissioned next week by the national leader and Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso has been taken over and remained sealed by armed policemen with no any reason.”
He added that, apart from taken over the new secretariat; the police arrested him and took him to the State Police Command in Maiduguri this morning.
“Yes I can confirm to you that, I have been arrested by the police this morning Thursday. Currently I am at the Borno State Police Command, and very soon, I was told that my phone will be seized from me.
“I took this opportunity to inform you the situation we are right now, and please help us tell the world what is happening to NNPP Secretariat and my humble self.
“I suspect that this is not ordinarily, but the handiwork of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum”. Attom lamented.
But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of the ruling APC in the state, Hon Ali Bukar Dalori dismissed claim by Hon Attom that APC was behind sealing of the NNPP Secretariat or arrest of any of its member by the Police.
“I want to inform you that, APC in Borno is not connected to a sealing of NNPP Secretariat as alleged by Hon Attom.
“I am just hearing this from you, and if Hon Attom was arrested and now in police custody, they should try and sort out their problem or misunderstanding with the police, but not to drag our great party, APC into it.”
Meanwhile, national chairman of NNPP, professor Rural Alkali, who described the take over of his party’s Secretariat as impunity taken too far by the ruling APC in Borno state, queried why the APC was afraid of be growing influence of it’s presidential candidate, Kwankwaso and the NNPP in the state
He however noted that the party would not succumb to the intimidation of bits members in the state, adding thst the NNPP has already it itself together in Borno state, and is already prepared for the race, not only in Borno, but many other states in the country
It would bc e recalled that the Borno state government had earlier been accused of stopping a football tournament in Maiduguri, organized by the NNPP Maiduguri metropolis federal constituency candidate, Atiku Abubakar Umar, obviously in fears that the tournament, which was embraced by over 18 wards in the constituency will popularize the candidacy of the sponsor
Also in a statement issued by NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, the party strongly condemns the Police siege on its two Secretariats in Maiduguri, Borno state, ahead of the planned visit of its National Leader and Presidential Candidate, Dr (Engr.) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Saturday.
It described the action as outrageous, barbaric, repulsive, reprehensible and disgusting, adding that NNPP will resist the executive recklessness, rascality, impunity and reign of terror by the outgoing All Progressives Congress in the state that is jittery over the popularity of our great Party in Borno State.
“It is this fear of progressive wind of change that frightens the outgoing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to conspire with the Police authorities in the state and sealed off two Secretariats of the Party in Maiduguri in feverish attempt to frustrate the visit of Senator Kwankwaso this Saturday.
“The inglorious era of political persecution and vendetta that impeded the nation’s democratic encounter is over. Any attempt to cause confusion and create imaginary political upheavals in the polity ahead of the 2023 general election must be resisted by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.”
The statement noted that the NNPP is a major stakeholder in the Nigeria project and cannot be intimidated by retrogressive and reactionary forces that want to destabilize the nation in order to perpetuate their stay in office against the wish of the people and clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“Officials of the Party in the State have spent hours waiting to meet with the Commissioner of Police in his office to no avail as he is not available to explain why he dispatched his men to seal the Secretariats.
“NNPP urges the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to call the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command to order, investigate this anti-democratic siege of a foremost political party in Nigeria and withdraw his men immediately.
“A new Nigeria is possible if citizens, security agents and governments at all levels are law abiding, follow due process and uphold democratic ethos, ethics and ideals,” the statement added.
