Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC), has fixed 28th December, 2013 for elections in the 17 local government areas of the state. In this interview, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, the special adviser to Yobe State governor on political and legislative affairs gives an insight into why the state government is insisting on the election despite security challenges. Excerpts: There are emerging complaints that election cannot be conducted in Yobe State under a state of emergency. What is your reaction? You see, when Mr. President declared state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, Yobe State government welcomed the development and declared its full support and pledged to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of the state of emergency. The federal government in its wisdom saw the need for the existing political structures in the affected states to remain as they are. We are happy with the decision and we strongly believe that mutual cooperation between federal and the state governments has substantially brought back peace and security in the three states except for the isolated cases recorded here and there. The fact that the political structures remain as they were depicts true democracy and, to my mind, the emergency will expire after six months more so that the situation has improved. So, if you look at this, there is nothing wrong with YSIEC and the parties commencing preparations for the election in December. There are complaints that many people who are expected to participate in the election have fled the state. Will this not affect the election? No, no, no. Most of those that left at the peak of the attacks have returned and that is why you find that business and economic activities have bounced back in Damaturu and other towns. If you look round, you will see the automobile spare parts dealers, building materials merchants, carpenters, masons and plumbers who left earlier have all come back. The market women are busy doing their buying and selling businesses. In fact, for a first time visitor to the state, he may not know what happened before now because, life has gradually returned to normalcy. Those claiming that people have evacuated their families out of the state are people who have lost touch with realities in the state. Surprisingly, these are people whose families do not come to the state even for holidays long before the insurgency. Their families have been in Diaspora since the creation of Yobe State 22 years ago. So, such people no matter who they are, I believe, lack every moral ground to complain that people left or took their wards to schools outside the state. I am challenging you to check the voter register of their respective units, you will never find names of their families in the voter register. So, you can see that, they have failed even in their civic responsibilities to vote, not to talk of canvassing for votes for any candidate in any election. As we are discussing now, prospective candidates and the various political parties are reaching out to the electorates across the length and breadth of the state canvassing for votes. This spells out the eagerness of the people for the election. Some politicians have also raised fears that the proposed election may be rigged in favour of the ruling party and its candidates. What is your response? Thank you very much for this question. You see, those making this wild allegation are politicians that have short changed the electorates and are scared of facing them at the polls. You know the federal government graciously assisted the people of the state with relief materials to cushion the effects of the insurgency attacks but were diverted. This election will give the electorates the opportunity to ask questions on the whereabouts of the relief materials. It is also an opportunity to pay back such politicians in their own coins. There is no doubt that the electorates will in the forthcoming election vote for people they can trust and that is why the guilty are scared of facing the electorates and singing baseless allegations. The transparency, fairness and credibility exhibited by the state electoral commission in the preparations and conduct of previous election gave political parties and their candidates a sense of belonging with more confidence in the electoral commission. Let me also explain that the Gaidam administration has no reason to rig any election because of the massive transformation recorded in road construction, water, health, education, agriculture, employment opportunities and other social sectors are evidently there. These are projects and programmes that can sell any candidate for a successful election at anytime, anywhere so, why rigging? Again, Governor Gaidam has always distanced himself and discouraged others from rigging. If you look at the 2011 general election, it was crystal clear with no complaint of rigging against the governor. His closest candidate in that election lacked grounds for litigation and so, could not institute any case in the tribunal or any other court of law. In this election, the electorates shall decide, it shall be a payback time. Yobe electorates will certainly sieve the grains from the chaff. There are also complaints that the security challenge in the state is not conducive for the election. What is your assessment of the situation? You see, the state has faced security challenge in the last three years. However, if you look at the situation then and now, there is no denying the fact that the situation has improved. Yes, we still face some isolated cases of the challenge but for everyone resident in the state, he will testify and appreciate that there is tremendous improvement in the security situation when you compare now and what obtained one, two years ago. For over one year, there was no security breach in Damaturu, except the one recorded some days ago and so also is the case with other parts of the state. Even President Goodluck Jonathan, in the last presidential media chat confirmed that there is improvement in security in the three states under the state of emergency. Those of us resident in these states appreciate the growing security in the affected states. These isolated cases of challenges have not halted socio-economic activities. So, on a general note, yes there is improvement in security. It was shocking and disgusting to hear the minister of state for finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, who is an indigene of the state on an international radio station, disputing the improvement. Surprisingly, he disputed all the claims made by Mr. President who has all the security report at his disposal. Perhaps this explains why until recently, the minister confined himself to Abuja and never took time to commiserate with the people in the last three years of insurgency attacks. It was just last week that as a minister representing the state, Dr Ngama visited the state to condole the families of students killed at the College of Agriculture, Gujba. Interestingly, when the minister came to Damaturu, he drove the streets in an open roof vehicle waving at people. This obviously is a clear sign of improvement in security which he disputed. I think we should also appreciate the fact that there is no society that is completely crime free or without security challenges. We are further encouraged by the coalition of political parties for reaffirming the preparedness of political parties to run the election. The PDP, represented by Hon. Tijjani Dugu, at the stakeholders’ forum also toed the path of other parties on the need to conduct the election. I am proud to say that Yobe state government has indeed stood out different because, while others jump at available excuses and opportunities not to conduct local government election, the Gaidam administration has supported the electoral commission with adequate resources and logistics to conduct free, fair and credible election into the local government councils.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 18:52:02 +0000
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