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| The flooded street leading to Mr. Babi's house at Malari, Damaturu. |
…perm sec denies allegations
From JOE Hemba
Residents of Malari in Damaturu have filled a petition against the Permeant Secretary, Ministry for Wealth Creation and Employment Hamisi Isa Babi over nuisance.
The letter which is addressed to the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Environment through his permanent secretary and copied to all security heads in the state, the special Adviser on Security and the Damaturu Emirate council said the action of Mr. Babi who blocked the flow of water the area which has caused the flooding of houses in the area.
The residents also alleged that the water blocked by the permanent secretary has caused some septic reservoirs to collapse and some of the buildings about to collapse due to the development.
The petition added that the stagnation of the water has become mosquito breading ponds causing serious health challenge to the immediate families and the people around.
The petitioners alleged that all attempts to persuade Mr. Babi to reconsider his action could not yield any positive result hence their resolve to channel their petition through legal means.
They regretted that, Mr. Babi, a government official who is supposed to be a good ambassador of the government has rather resorted to intimidating the complainants.
Mr. Babi while responding to the petition said he has done nothing wrong in trying to make his house accessible from the flood.
“What I want to tell you that, there nothing wrong that I have done here. What I have done is to enable me get access to my house. I have done this for myself and my immediate neigbour,” Mr. Babi said.
The Permanent Secretary also informed me that he has assisted some of his neighbors in replacing wooden electric poles with pre-stressed poles, adding that, I have also spoken with the ministry of works to assist in solving the problem.
He informed that at the set in of the rainy season, he foresaw the problem and informed his neigbours to come together and contribute money to buy some trip of laterite sand to solve the problem.
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| The front of Mr. Babi's House at Malari in Damaturu |
He appealed to the people to be grateful rather than making him look oppressive in the eyes of outsiders.
“Its very unfortunate what the people are saying about this incident. Making my house accessible has become an offence against members of the community. This is unfortunate because I need to be appreciated rather this kind of attitude that these people are making other people to believe. I have contributed about eight trip of laterite here and changed some of the wooden electric poles in this area that were being eaten up by termites. Nobody has thanked me for that. But I was doing it for God, not for human beings so I am satisfied,” Mr. Babi explained.
Below is the full version of the letter.
MALARI SABON KWALTA, LAYIN TRANSFORMER COMMUNITY, DAMATURU. YOBE STATE.
Contact:- 08033692703, 08036233631.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Honorable Commissioner,
Ministry of Environment,
Yobe State.
Through,
The Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Environment,
Yobe State.
Dear Sir/Madam,
COMPLAINT OF PUBLIC NUISANCE, INCITING PUBLIC DISTURBANCE AND BLOCKAGE OF WATER WAY AGAINST HAMIDU ISAH BABI (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment) OF MALARI SABON KWALTA, LAYIN TRANSFORMER.
The above underlined subject matter refers:
Members of Malari Sabon Kwalta layin transformer community, wish to forward the above aching complain for quick response and intervention to forestall any public disturbance and to ensure public peace. It is imperative to bring to your notice that one Hamidu Isah Babi has recently blocked water way in the area and the only means to drain rainfall out of the entire community at Malari Sabon Kwalta layin transformer community, as a result, many houses and septic tanks around houses are now susceptible to collapse. However, Water is made to stagnate thereby causing infestation of diseases which may be hazardous to the entire community, as well as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The unlawful act has stopped the free flow of water in the community, blocking the water ways and depriving the community access to other places. This is causing a lot of discomfort to the entire community members as the rain is heavy this season. The water completely has no channel to drain out and the only way out is blocked.
In an attempt to proffer solution to the disheartened situation, the community members and the local chief (Bulama) has contacted the said Hamidu Isah Babi on several occasion and laid the complaint of his action but proved adamant. He ignored everyone and even intimidating and harassing members of the community.
Consequently, we are law abiding citizens, we don’t want to take laws into our hands and recourse to seek redress through proper channel. We wish to acknowledge the said Hamidu Isah Babi as a government official, at his capacity who supposed to be an image maker of the state rather than the way he portrayed himself. It is on this note, we are writing to solicit for quick intervention and redress in order to have peaceful coexistence in our community.
While awaiting your response, accept the assurance of Malari Sabon Kwalta, Layin Transformer community. Thank you.
Yours Faithfully,
Complainers:
1) Mohammed Mustapha – 08036233613
2) Aliyu Mustapha – 08038614892
3) Nuhu Haladu Saleh – 08065598508
4) Baban Maryam – 09038540512
5) Mele Buba – 08032806496
6) Jacob Isaac - 07033399341
Community Leader:
1) Ba Bulama Modu – 08033692703 – Bulama
Cc,
The Commissioner of Police,
Yobe State Command.
Cc,
The Director,
Department of State Services (DSS),
Yobe State Command.
Cc,
SA Security,
Governor’s Office,
Yobe State.
Cc,
The Commandant,
Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Command (NSCDC),
Yobe State Command.
Cc,
The Director General,
Yobe State Geographical Information System (YOGIS),
Yobe State.
Cc,
Zauren Sulhu,
Damaturu Emirate Council (DEC),
Yobe State.
