Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
A former Commissioner in Bauchi State, Shehu Barau Ningi, was tuesday allegedly attacked alongside his supporters with vehicles vandalised by those he described as errand boys of the state government during their meeting in the state capital.
Ningi, who barely two weeks ago resigned as the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning alleged at a press conference in Bauchi that they were attacked by supporters of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar on Monday.
He said they were having a meeting with some APC members from Dass who came to pay him a solidarity visit when two people whom he said were known to him entered the venue of the meeting and started shouting.
“No sooner had I finish my speech than the errand boys started shouting, it is a lie, it is a lie, so immediately some thugs entered the meeting room with knifes, cutlasses and sticks, and smashed all the glasses and windscreens of the vehicles our visitors brought”
He added: “They beat my visitors including the ‘Sarkin Tike’ of Dass, they injured him and vandalised his vehicle parked outside our meeting room.”
Ningi explained that the two identified that earlier entetered the meeting place were later joined by other people who came in with cutlasses, sticks and other weapons and allegedly attacked the people present at the meeting.
He regretted that despite stating his reasons of resignation fromhis position as commissioner, the party and the governor are overreacting which, he noted is creating unnecessary acrimony.
“So, gradually, the government will create a culture of hooliganism and political thuggery in the state, and it is unfortunate that it is the government that is advocating, promoting and creating this culture of hooliganism and thuggery.”
“So because I resigned which is normal under normal circumstance, except if we have mediocre in government, if you have mediocre in politics, and it is this mediocrity that is causing concern, making the government to overreact”
The former commissioner said from the look of things, his life and that of his supporters are in danger, “So my life and the lives of my supporters are in danger, but we have reported this case to the police, they came to the scene of the incident and took pictures and see clear evidence of attack, of criminal trespass, so the public should know that our lives are in danger”.
Ningi added that if no measure is taken to halt the trend, political thuggery and other dangerous developments may find a place in Bauchi politics, “these have confirmed that they have been sent by the chairman to kill us, in particular myself, 0ne of them (name withheld) said it.”
The former commissioner also warned that if measures are not taken by security agencies and other stakeholders, his supporters will have no choice but to defend themselves.
“We will also report the issue to the party so that the government in Bauchi wouldbe tolerannt of constructive criticisms. If you cannot accept constructive criticisms, then who are you governing, you cannot achieve anything without constructive criticisms and that is what this government is lacking,” he queried.
Ningi, who stated categorically that he is still in the APC concluded, “My resignation tally with the change mantra, in other countries ministers, prime ministers and presidents resigns over issues they don’t agree with in order for a change to happen”.
Debunking the allegations, Special Assistant to the state governor on Media and Communication, Sabo Mohammed said the former commissioner is only making unfounded allegations based on mischief.
According to the Special Assistant, the former commissioner has a history of causing division in any political party he joins.
“We that belong to the opposition especially in the ANPP and CPC know what he did in those parties. It’s just nemesis, the people whom he represents and resigned without consulting them revolted against him. So, he now wanted to devise other means to attract attention and blame the government and the APC as a party,” he said.
Mohammed explained that Governor Mohammed Abubakar’s administration is always working to ensure the protection of lives and properties of people of Bauchi state.
