Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Youths in Jigawa State booed the governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and his deputy, Umar Namad, yesterday, expressing their dissatisfaction with the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership. (We are not on your side!)
The incident occurred in the state’s Gumel Council during the popular Sallar Gani festival.
The deputy governor is also the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in the state for 2023.
Sallar Gani is a popular Eid-el-Maulud festival (celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad). It showcases multi-ethnic cultures, Dubar, and other activities.
The governor’s convoy also included the APC’s gubernatorial running mate, Aminu Usman Gumel, the state party chairman, Alhaji Aminu Sani Gumel, and a number of high-ranking party officials.
In a video that has since gone viral, the youths can be seen expressing their displeasure with the governor and his deputy. “We don’t need you!” We don’t need you! They chanted, “We don’t want you!”
According to reports, the youths were dissatisfied with the governor’s alleged abandonment of the state’s flood-ravaged communities.
The floods are said to have killed over 100 people and destroyed farmlands and property.
It was also discovered that the governor had not visited any of the displaced people or offered condolences to families who had lost loved ones since his return.
“Yes, the governor was booed by a few youth groups, but not to the extent that is being exaggerated,” said an eyewitness who was in the governor’s convoy but did not want his name printed.
“Everything started well,” he said. We arrived in town and at the festival venue peacefully and were greeted warmly. When we were leaving after the event, the governor and the APC candidate were in the same open-roof vehicle, waving to the crowd, when the youths began chanting, “Bamayi! Bamayi!”
When contacted, Alhaji Habibu Nuhu Kila, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, stated, “It was not true.”
“What of the thousands in the palace who were praising the governorship candidate?” he asked rhetorically.
