By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
Candidate for the Maiduguri metropolitan federal constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abdulsalam Kachalla has described as unfortunate and dangerous, the recent vandalization of his party’s campaign posters in the state capital.
A press statement by the candidate and made available to Newsdiaryonline said it does not portend well for democracy if a ruling party should engage in acts of unprovoked destruction of opponents’ campaign materials.
He however urged his supporters and other PDP members in the state to exercise restraint in the face of this provocation, adding that it was sad that youths were manipulated into becoming tools for political brigandage instead of being guided towards productive ventures for national development.
He said the matter had been reported to the security for necessary action and urged improved parental control so that children are not used as thugs by unscrupulous political power seakers.
He cautioned that democracy can never thrive in an atmosphere of intolerance and rancour, pointing out that no single individual or group can claim sole monopoly of violence.
He expressed confidence that the cultured electorates of the Maiduguri Metropolitan constituency would frown at this act of indecent vandalism and vote for him as an alternative to political brigandage.
“It is with utmost concern and disappointment that I address my ‘teeming supporters, well-wishers and the general public over the unfortunate and unprovoked destruction of my campaign Posters, Flyers and Flags and that of other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday, 26th November, 2019 by hoodlums and miscreants believed to be have been sponsored by our main political opponents in the 2019 elections.
“This is a very dangerous dimension, which is capable of breaching the fragile peace enjoyed by the people of the State after the prolonged and yet to be settled Boko Harare Insurgency since 2009.
“I am particularly concerned about the return of politics of hooliganism in Maiduguri perpetrated by sponsored young, unemployed youths, who are mostly the children of the poor that have been failed by their sponsors to address for all these years.
“It is most unfortunate that instead of engaging our youths in meaningful and productive ventures, they have been turned into hooligans and tools for political violence.
“This is unacceptable and was precisely one of the reasons why I ventured into politics to contest for the seat of House of Representatives in Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency to change this depressing narrative,
“One of my top priorities if elected will be to tackle this menace of hooliganism in our society through well-thought out programmes of positive engagements of our teeming youths through provision of education, employment and empowerment opportunities so that they can become responsible citizens.
“Against this background, I wish to appeal to my teeming supporters and PDP members in the State to remain calm and exercise restraint over this unruly behaviour of these hooligans. I also appeal to parents not to allow their children to be used any longer as thugs by politicians in the State.
“The matter has been reported to the security agencies in the State to take decisive action and bring those responsible to face the full wrath of the Law including their sponsors no matter how highly placed. As we know, democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of intolerance and violence and nobody has the monopoly of violence.
“I am confident that the majority of the electorates in Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency will join me in condemning this undemocratic action of these youths and will vote for an alternative to thuggery in the coming election in 2019 by God’s Grace,” Kachalla said.
Follow Us On WhatsApp
