Sokoto: Alleged attack on ADC women: Hon. Bajare denies involvement, accuses ADC of seeking trouble
Sokoto: Alleged attack on ADC women: Hon. Bajare denies involvement, accuses ADC of seeking trouble
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Rural Roads, Hon. Malami Muhammad Galadanchi Bajare, has denied allegations that he mobilized and led thugs to attack a peaceful procession of about 5,000 women organized by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto.
Hon. Bajare stated this on Thursday in Sokoto while addressing newsmen in reaction to the allegations levelled against him by the ADC.
He said he appreciated the opportunity to present his own side of the story, noting that reports of the alleged attack were a misrepresentation of what actually transpired.
According to him, the APC Sokoto Central Senatorial District Zonal Office, located a few metres from the Old Savannah Bank area where ADC operates, has been in existence for over 15 years and is well known to all residents.
“Everybody in Sokoto knows we have APC Zonal Office in that area for the past 15 years. Between Savannah Bank to our zonal office, there is no difference of five plots. If they don’t want trouble, why open an office there?” he queried.
Hon. Bajare explained that on the day in question, the APC had planned to receive over 2,750 defectors from ADC to APC at the zonal office. He alleged that ADC supporters blocked his party members and seized two of their motorcycles.
He said when he heard about the seizure, he had to intervene personally to prevent his supporters from going on a reprisal, stressing that his intervention prevented a breakdown of law and order.
“They blocked some of our people and collected two motorcycles. Our people said they must go and collect them. As a leader, I felt I should not allow that to happen. I went there by myself,” he said.
He stated that the matter was subsequently handled in the presence of security personnel, including the Divisional Police Officer and the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), adding that videos of the incident are available.
According to him, one of the motorcycles was later recovered from the ADC office and it was agreed that the motorcycle should be taken to the Civil Defence office for the owner to claim with valid papers.
Hon. Bajare dismissed the allegations of attacking women, describing ADC as a party not on ground and desperate to create tension ahead of the elections.
He accused the previous administration under which ADC figures served of failing to provide infrastructure and selling over 3,000 houses without building any.
“They are not ready for this election. They are trying to create problems in the state,” he alleged
He maintained that the APC administration in the state has never stopped the opposition from carrying out lawful political activities and urged Sokoto people to judge between what he described as light and darkness.
“We have paid salaries on time, paid pensioners and gratuities, restored light to government houses and embarked on massive infrastructure and housing projects in Kalambaina and other areas. Nobody wants to be dragged back to the era when local government workers were paid N4,000,” he said.
He appealed to the people of Sokoto State to vote for continuity and consolidation of the achievements of the present administration led by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
