– Urges Citizens to Remain Calm As Results Trickles in
By Billy Graham Abel Yola
The Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has imposed a ban on the activities of international and local Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Adamawa state effective from the 29th February, 2023 to 15th March, 2023, over what he described as undue meddling in political affairs in the state.
According to governor Gov. Fintiri, his government have reliably gathered intelligence that some NGOs have become a conduit for some political parties for the distribution of items in some Adamawa communities and they have been used for vote buying and undue interference in political process.
This is contained in a broadcast he made, Tuesday, in Yola, Adamawa state.
Gov. Fintiri said, Adamawa had been the home of peace and urge the people of Adamawa to maintain peace and remain law abiding because there is no elections that is worth the life of any citizen.
Fintiri said, “It has been discovered that most Non-Governmental Organizations have swallowed the bug and are dabbling into politics in the name of providing humanitarian assistance to the people.
“Government cannot fold its arms and watch such so-called NGO’s mislead the people and inject divisive tendencies into their psyche.
“In view of the foregoing and in furtherance of our desire to reorder the electoral behaviour of our people and remove the influence of the NGOs who have reduce the statutory mandate to that one of a vote buying machine, Government has decided to suspend the activities of local and international Non-Governmental organizations throughout the State until 15th of March, 2023, when the elections are done. This is done in good faith and in furtherance of our desire to deepen our democracy and protect the humanitarian mandate of the NGOs.
“Let us learn to put the interest of the country above any other primordial interest. There is no time to waste. We all know the threats that further hesitation will bring.”
The Adamawa state governor while commending the people of Adamawa state for a peaceful elections said, “The Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone but I must thank all our citizens for trooping out en-mass to exercise your civic responsibility.
“Your conduct during and after the elections have been peaceful, orderly, exemplary and commendable. This is the true reflection of Adamawa as the Home of peace and a bastion of democracy.
“I urge you to remain calm while we await the announcement of the final outcome of the exercise.”
Speaking on the security situation in the country he said, “We commend the central role of our security agencies in the maintenance of peace and order during the election, let me warn trouble makers or miscreants not to attempt to disrupt or cause a breakdown of law and order. Without hesitation such misguided elements would be held accountable for their actions.
“We cannot allow a return to the gloomy era of disruption and chaos. The Peaceful coexistence the state enjoys did not come on a platter of gold. It is a hard-earned one. Any attempt to temper with it would therefore be decisively dealt with. I have ordered patrols and surveillance by the Security Personnel to keep everything in check.
“For the peace loving people of Adamawa State, you have nothing to worry about as government has put all the necessary security measures in place in keeping with our promise of safeguarding the lives and property of our people.
“No election is worth the life of any citizen of the State. I therefore urge our citizens to uphold peace and allow the process go on until the winner emerges.
“I sincerely thank our people for the widespread support this Government has been enjoying which was amply demonstrated by the manner you voted massively for our party in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections and urge you to do more in the next Governorship and State Assembly elections.”