By Awwal Umar Kontagora The NDC Party in Niger State has held special prayers for communities whose residents are being held by ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The NDC Party in Niger State has held special prayers for communities whose residents are being held by kidnappers, while expressing frustration over what it described as the failure of the APC government to fulfil its promises made during the last election campaign.
The Chairman of the party in Niger State, Alhaji Inuwa Baba Ahmed, led the prayers during a meeting with the Sabon Salo Movement, a group that has expressed its support for the NDC Party in the state.
Alhaji Inuwa said the government had failed to fulfil its promises, particularly its commitment to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, yet was now seeking re-election.
He said, “Therefore, we do not prevent anyone from accepting money during the upcoming election because it is our money that they have stolen. But let us make sure that we give Peter Obi our votes, because we are confident that if the NDC Party comes to power in this country, there will be the change we are seeking to end insecurity, create jobs for the youth and provide infrastructure for Nigerians.”
Addressing participants at the meeting, the former councillor of Bosso Local Government Area, Hon. Umar Usman Bosso (Sai Malam), said that during his tenure as councillor, he provided infrastructure projects that were witnessed by the people of Bosso.
He said he provided eight modern boreholes powered by solar energy and constructed bridges connecting communities in Paikoro and Bosso local government areas, adding that the projects were executed 11 years ago and were still benefiting the people.
He said his community had now asked him to contest for a seat in the National Assembly under the NDC, a request he had accepted.
“Today, I am contesting for this seat. So, if the people of Paikoro and Bosso are serious, they should ensure that they come and work with us. They should also ensure that all the votes they cast are for the NDC, from top to bottom,” he said.
He added that in Zone B, the party had a candidate for the Senate, Senator Philip Danjuma, while he was contesting for the Federal House of Representatives. He also mentioned Hon. Lami Magajin Gari as the party’s candidate for the State House of Assembly representing Bosso Local Government.
He said what was currently worrying was the APC government’s focus on constructing flyovers while communities continued to suffer from insecurity and other challenges, accusing the government of seeking a second term in office.
He said that residents in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger states, including Kano State, were living in fear because of terrorist activities.
According to him, the number of people losing their lives daily as a result of insecurity could hardly be counted, while thousands of others were allegedly in the hands of terrorists.
He accused the government of failing to adequately address the challenges, saying its attention appeared to be focused on political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further alleged that about 500 people were being held by terrorists in Borgu Local Government Area, apart from those who had been killed, accusing the government of failing to speak out on the situation.
He called on the people of Niger State to wake up and join hands to save the state and the country from what he described as a bad future.
He urged the people to make the right choice at the polls by voting for the NDC from top to bottom, saying this was necessary to secure a better future and ensure good governance.
The programme was attended by women, youths and candidates contesting various legislative seats, including Hon. Jamilu Garba Farindoki and Hon. Lami Magajin Gari, who are contesting seats in the State House of Assembly for Paikoro and Bosso local government areas respectively.
Also in attendance were the party’s senatorial candidate for Zone B, Senator Philip Danjuma, and its House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Umar Usman Bosso (Sai Malam).
The programme was held under the leadership of the NDC Chairman in Niger State, Alhaji Inuwa Baba Ahmed, alongside other party leaders from the state and Bosso and Paikoro local government areas.
During the programme, youths presented the needs and concerns of residents of Shanu District, comprising Bosso Central 1 and 2 and Shata.
They identified the lack of adequate primary healthcare facilities, electricity and other infrastructure as urgent challenges requiring government attention.
The House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Engr. Umar Usman Bosso, promised to address the electricity challenges in Shanu District, including the installation of additional transformers and the problem of frequent disconnection of the main electricity line serving the district and neighbouring communities.
Speaking on the lack of primary healthcare facilities in Shanu District, he described the situation as a failure of government.
He said that during his visits to various communities, he had encountered similar concerns, adding that many communities did not have primary healthcare facilities nearby.
According to him, whenever residents, particularly those in several parts of Bosso Local Government Area, faced health emergencies, they were often required to travel to the General Hospital in Minna or the Old Airport health facility.
He described the situation as unacceptable and said it needed to be addressed.
He added that if the government believed that residents were unaware of the situation, it should understand that the people were conscious of the challenges confronting them, promising that if given the opportunity, they would do what was necessary to address the problems.
Sai Malam also called on Nigerians, particularly residents of Niger State, to make the right decision when the elections arrive.
He said the election campaign had commenced and urged voters to ask politicians to explain what they had done for them before deciding whether to support them again.
He also reminded voters of promises made during the previous election campaign, particularly the pledge that those who failed to provide 24-hour electricity should not be re-elected.
“Today, there is no electricity, no good infrastructure, no security and no jobs for the youth. So many people have parked their vehicles because of the high cost of fuel, focusing instead on how to eat three times a day and avoid falling into the hands of terrorists,” he said.
.jpeg)
No comments