The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the demolition of a plaza belonging to Attom Magira, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the state
The party described the demolition as “wicked, cowardly, and a direct recipe for crisis in the state”
The PDP, in a statement on Saturday by its state Publicity Secretary, Amos Adziba, said the action was not only borne out of hatred and political intolerance but the furtherance of a larger plot by the All Progressives Congress administration to intimidate and silence opposition in the state and the country at large
The statement reads in part: “The PDP cautioned the APC and the Borno State government against crossing the boundaries and stretching the forbearance of the people,” which it stated “was already causing tension that could trigger serious unrest in the State ”
Adziba dismissed the reasons given by the Borno State Geographic Information Service and the state government for the demolition, saying that “it is baseless, false and incongruous.”
The statement added, “They fail to add up, to justify the ferocious invasion, harassment of citizens, and demolition of the said property.
“The APC-led Borno State government could not wait for the outcome of the court process, apparently because it knows that it is pursuing an illegal agenda,” the statement pointed out.
It maintained that “Nigerians know how the APC and its government have been hounding, harassing, and dragging Atom around over trumped-up charges, for daring to be among compatriots at the forefront of the quest to rescue our state from misrule and strangleholds of the APC and its cabal.”
The PDP scribe described the claim by the government as the reason for the demolition as false and a mere attempt to take over the property
“The APC and Borno state government should perish their idea of trying to use false claims and propaganda to justify their wicked act and take over the property, as such cannot hoodwink Nigerians from the truth.
“Moreover, the timing of the invasion and demolition, in the wee hours and under the cover of darkness, is a direct indication that the state government was carrying out an unwholesome and condemnable operation,” he said.
The PDP urged Nigerians to “note that the demolition of property, genuinely belonging to opposition leaders and other Nigerians perceived to be opposed to APC’s oppressive administration, has become a policy of the APC”
While describing the action of the ruling government as too extreme and condemnable, the statement, however, assured Hon. Attom Magira of the support of the party and the people and cautioned the state government to henceforth steer clear of the property.
TodayPriceNG recalls that the governor had earlier in February ordered the arrest of Attom over a billboard sponsored by supporters of the “Yes To Merger” campaign, which called for a merger of political parties in the state.
The billboard, featuring Magira’s image and the slogan “Say Yes To Merger,” was reportedly destroyed by unidentified individuals.
He was subsequently charged before the State High Court of Justice with the Borno State government as the complainant.
The first count had read: “That you, Attom Magira Tom, ‘m’, 43’ yrs old, on or about the 22/12/2024, at about 2000 hrs at Bulumkutu along Maiduguri-Kano Road, Maiduguri, which is within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court, did commit an illegal act, to wit; falsely impersonated His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, in that you mounted your picture on a Bill-Board and addressed yourself as HE ATTOM MUH’D MAGIRA and you thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State, 2023.”
Count Two read, “That you, Attom Magira Tom ‘m’ ‘43’ yrs old, on or about the 22/12/2024, at about 2000 hrs at Bulumkutu along Maiduguri-Kano Road, Maiduguri, which is within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did commit an illegal act, to wit; inciting public disturbance, in that you mounted your picture on a billboard with the inscription ‘SAY YES to MERGER, knowing that same was likely to cause a breach of public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 79 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State, 2023.”
The charges were filed by Hauwa Abubakar Isa, the Attorney General of Borno State, and others in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Ministry of Justice Borno State.
