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| Alhaji Umar Mohammad Maizabura |
Melvin Ibe, Maiduguri
Maizabura also called on the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of importance immediately reopen schools across the country to avail students and pupils the opportunity to go back to school to study and write their exams in the interest of their future and development of the nation.
Addressing Journalists at a press conference held on Saturday in Maiduguri, Maizabura noted that issue of security which is paramount to the nation requires urgent attention for the unity and progress of the Nigeria.
He said : "It gives great concern to Nigerians that with the calibre and strength of the Nigerian armed forces on ground in all the nooks and crannies of the country, the security Situation continues to be unbelievably smearing the competence of the military and other security agencies to end the Insurgency and other criminalities.
"While our children will continue to stay at home without schooling with no job to do due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some may end up becoming criminals because an idle mind is devil's workshop", Maizabura added.
According to him, allowing the children to return to school to study and write their examinations as future leaders of the country is important and a way forward for the development of the children and country at large.
The Elder Statesman added that if security situation of the country is not being handled properly, in future, the situation may be uncontrollable and disastrous to everybody as it could consume all and sundry, noting that, no nation can develop without peace and no meaningful development can take place in chaos.
He further commended Governor Babagama Umara Zulum of Borno State for his untiring efforts and concern towards restoration of peace in the state and called on Borno people within and outside to continue to support and encourage him to develop the state amidst the security challenges.
He further called on the governor to prfioritize construction works on township road network, drainages, boreholes, electricity, schools and hospitals among others especially, this raining season to make places accessible and habitable.
He also called on the Nigerian Military to redouble their efforts in their continuous counter Insurgency fight against the Boko Haram Insurgents and bandits in their peace restoration process in the interest of peace and development of the state, region and country at large.
Maizabura further urged President Buhari and Governor Zulum to continue to distribute Palliatives to the people as a result of the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic lockdown to cushion the sufferings of the people, especially the vulnerables in the society.
On the issue of APC leadership crisis, the NDLP National Chairman appealed to President Buhari as the National Leader of the APC ruling party to appoint the Yobe State former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) , Engineer Baba Goni' Machina as the new National Chairman of the APC.
He said as an Elder Statesman who watched the interim crisis which traversed to the appointment of Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni as National Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee for 6 months to conduct election for a substantive Chairman that should resolve its crisis through the appointment of Engineer Baba Goni' Machina ,who has proven integrity and wide knowledge of administration as a seasoned politician.
He argued that it is only through the appointment of credible, experienced, seasoned , competent, dedicated and committed person like Engineer Machina to lead the APC ruling party that there will be stability in the polity and development could be entrenched.
Maizabura noted that his suggestion for Engineer Machina as an Elder Statesman became necessary based on the prevailing situation and the need to bring to an end the lingering crisis rocking the leadership of the ruling party ,in order to move the nation forward and ensure stability in the system because, without stability at the ruling party, there would not be effective development and the nation will continue to suffer unnecessarily.
"I make this suggestion as a Nigerian not as APC member. I am from an opposition but the polity will not be stable without the stability of the ruling party. This is our concern as oppositions that without them, the ruling party can not survive and even be functional as we remained the watchdog the ruling Patty.
"And nobody has asked me to make this statement and I am doing this in the overall interest of the country. I don't collect money from any politician and I don't have a godfather. My suggestion is purely on democracy and unbiased for good and interest of democracy as an Elder Statesman who has good knowledge of the Nigerian politics.
"While my opinion on the issue of scrapping or dissolution of some political parties in the country that have leadership and party structures on ground as well as have participated in the last general elections was neither biased nor out of hatred.
"These political parties have leadership and party structures across the 36 states of the country and these party offices are functional as well as recognized by INEC. Their dissolution or scrapping was uncalled for and needed to be reviewed.
" I however blamed INEC for its action because, the political hierarchy had leaders and offices even at the wards and LGC levels and participated in the elections. I oppose INEC's decision to dissolve them as we went round the 36 states of the federation as required by INEC in over 30 days.
"We are nevertheless ever ready to challenge INEC for that inaction hence the ruling party, APC can not survive without the oppositions. Funds were not even given to us as announced but we managed to establish ourselves and participated in the elections", Maizabura said.
Speaking on the EFCC's Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu's suspension and allegations, Umar Maizabura opined that all the controversies surrounding his removal were unclear and manipulated if not conspired.
He said that what the presidency could have done first was to ensure that nobody rubbishes the integrity and competence of Magu by ensuring that all those behind his suspension or allegations are brought to book to prove themselves with facts and figures before making the findings public.
The political Chieftain notes that hence the office and seat are targets of corrupt leaders in all the circles of Government including the private sector, military, political office holders and service chiefs as nobody is a scapegoat or should be allowed to be one.
According to him with these facts and figures handy, drastic action can be taken against him to serve as detriment to others not mere allegations or skemishes as it happened to his predecessors like Farida Waziri, Nuhu Ribado and Lamurde.
He said scheming people of integrity and competence out of office due to sentiments was not good for the nation and democracy especially the anti graft crusade which cleanses the corrupt leaders and politicians because they have questions to answer from their people in terms of good governance and transparency.
"It is only in developed or advanced countries that fight against corruption is transparent and upheld by all, including governments and the poor masses. No politician or public office holder or security Chief will like his antecedents to be exposed whether in office or after leaving office in Nigeria and Africa, except in advanced countries" ,Maizabura said.
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