March 18: Ex-Bauchi LG Chairmen calls for peaceful election
Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Ahead of the Saturday March 18 Governorship and States assembly elections, forum of former Local government Chairmen in Bauchi state have called on the electorates to shun any form of violent and conduct themselves peacefully.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the forum at the Bauchi state secretariat of the NUJ Tuesday, former chairman of Shira, Mahmud Abba Yana also condemned the violence that has ‘characterized campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
They enjoined the people of Bauchi state to eschew politics of bitterness by shunning violence.
The former Chairmen also called on the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of evil ahead of the March 18 State and Governorship Elections are not allowed to achieve their targets.
The former Chairmen lamented that lives were lost in a violence that trailed campaigns in Akuyam town of Misau Local Government Area and the governor’s hometown in Duguri, Alkaleri local government area.
Mahmud Yana, who led other former Chairmen to the press conference said that the forum was concern about the violence and called for peaceful campaigns where developmental issues are emphasized rather than violence.
“The vicious acts of violence witnessed in such campaigns if not curtailed , will instil fear and apprehension in the minds of the hood people of the state in the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly Elections in the state,” he said.
The forum urged the people of the state to shun violence and perpetrators of evil acts so as to have a peaceful election.
The ex-LG Chairmen noted that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has made tremendous efforts in providing unprecedented developments to communities in the state in the last four years.
“We noted with gratitude the provision of roads across the state, educational facilities, provision of portable drinking water, health facilities, women and youth empowerment, construction and rehabilitation of palaces and houses of traditional rulers, agricultural inputs as well as security in the state”, the Forum said.
“It is to the credit of the governor that developments unlike in past, with the provision of resources for rural projects by the Local Councils including the rehabilitation of the 20 Local Government Secretariats which are now wearing new looks”, they added.
The Forum while urging the electorate to come out en mass and vote for the Governor to enable continue with the good job he has started, reiterated their unalloyed loyalty and support to the developmental strides of the Governor.