The Secretary to Borno State Government, Amb. Baba Jidda, has said that the State is been taking over by dreaded Islamic Group Boko Haram noting that most parts of the state is now under the their control. He said as a result of this, the people may not contribute to discussions about the 2015 elections for now.
He also suggested that every political discussions and plans by politicians should be put on low tunes until the insurgents are silenced.
Jidda made this statement while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, regretting that normal governmental, economic, social and political activities have been dislocated in his state.
He also said huge numbers of displaced persons are now living in refugee camps in Maiduguri, neighbouring states as well as Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Jidda regretted that in spite of the security challenge facing the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed October 3 for a bye-election for Jere LG House of Assembly Constituency in the state.
In his prepared speech titled, “Imperatives of Peace before Politicking,’’ he appealed to all well-meaning sons and daughters of the state to jettison politicking for now for the sake of the continued existence of Nigeria and survival of democracy.
He said, “At this very moment, most parts of Borno State are being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents. Government presence and administration is minimal or non-existent across many parts of the state, with economic, commercial and social services totally subdued. Schools and clinics remain closed.
“Most settlements in the affected areas in the state have either been deserted or access to them practically impossible, thus majority of the political stakeholders cannot, in real fact reach their constituencies.
‘’So, the threat of insecurity affects everybody irrespective of political differences. The enabling environment for politics and electioneering campaign is simply not obtainable at present in Borno State. In the view of many, the thought about politics and pursuit of political interest in this environment appears absurd, callous and
morally repulsive.’’
He made a call for a stakeholders summit of eminent citizens of North-east zone, irrespective of ethnic , political and religious affiliations, to articulate a broad-based solutions to the threat posed by the insurgents
