Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has assured the people of the state that his administration will not allow the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance, tagged #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria, to escalate.
The assurance was coming following the escalation in Azare, headquarters of Katagum LGA, where the protesters went violent, vandalised the Government House Annex, the house of a former Deputy Governor of the state, broke shops, and looted properties.
The Governor, who addressed an emergency expanded security meeting at the Governor’s Office on Monday evening, urged citizens of the state to remain law-abiding and exercise restraint by ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the state.
Bala Mohammed said that the peaceful protest by citizens of the country is a clear demonstration that the government at all levels has failed in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
He acknowledged the fact that there is a huge gap between the government and the governed in the country, stressing that authorities at all levels have really heard the voices of the people and are now assuring that measures will be taken to address the problems and demands.
The governor, however, commented on people in the state for their peaceful conduct since the start of the protest but lamented the violence that erupted in Azare town, headquarters of Katagum LGA, on Monday, describing it as most unfortunate and uncalled for.
He then called on the people of the state to continue to support his administration by being patient while the government continues to provide quality leadership that will develop the state infrastructure deficit.
According to him, “Our administration has embarked on various key infrastructural developmental projects across the state and empowerment programmes under the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP) in recognition of the need to make the people self-employed.
He also stated that his administration has supported LGAs to enable them to function and perform their constitutional duties as the third tier of government by providing dividends of democracy to the people.
The governor concluded by stressing that his administration will continue to partner with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the government lives up to the expectations of the people.
The meeting was attended by the security chief, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in the state.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has approved the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Katagum LGA of the state with immediate effect
The announcement was contained in a statement titled Imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Katagum Local Government Area, signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr Muhammad Ibrahim Kashim, on Monday.
The statement reads: “Due to the deteriorating security situation in Azare and its environments, Katagum Local Government Area, leading to the destruction of public property, stealing, victimisation, etc., His Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, has approved the imposition, with immediate effect, of a 24-hour curfew in Katagum Local Government Area, in order to contain the situation.”
The statement further contained that “His Excellency has further directed all security agencies to wade into the matter and ensure that the hoodlums are fished out and brought to book.”
“He further calls on law-abiding citizens to cooperate with security agencies at this trying moment,” the SSG added.
Reports monitored from the area revealed that the protesters defied all entreaties and trooped to the streets of Azare, the headquarters of the LGA.
They were said to have blocked the Kano-Maiduguri expressway, smashed glasses of cars, forced shops to open, and looted the items found therein, just as they pounced on a few government properties that they damaged, vandalised, and carted away.
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