by George Kush
Adamawa is a unique state. It is a state that is full of complexities. A state that notably made history when against all odds, and federal might, it voted out an incumbent from the ruling party. Making way for a breath of FRESH AIR in the state.
As time passes on many people are coming to grips with events on Saturday 20th of March, 2021 that saw the defeat of the PDP in Lamurde councillorship elections. How and why it happened is a riddle,but that it happened is FACT.
Till date many are amazed it has happened. The question asked and what many fail to believe is that ADSIEC,under the state was given a free hand to conduct elections without pressure from Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who came to office by popular vote of the people.
At various stages ,since his administration came into office he has maintained fairness in all spheres of governance. Local Government Councils know what they are supposed to collect as allocation monthly and they can monitor that on pages of newspapers monthly. After many of such governance remained shrouded in secrecy in the past, the state is doing the needful even as it pertains to elections which should be free and fair.
Now the question why the loss in Lamurde? The fact is not farfetched than the local political wranglings in the area and typical of Fintiri he did not meddle or try to deny the people the right elect a candidate of their choice. This is highly commendable!
We all recall when six years back he was out of a well deserved ticket to contest he bided his time till his turn came.
For Fintiri political office is not a “do or die affair”.
In everything he does some people will try to find fault,but once on the right path ,he is unperturbed and remains focused.
The outcome of the election in Lamurde has nothing to do with Fintiri. It is a result of local problems by politicians flexing muscles without due consultation to what the people want. An eye witness is of the opinion that should Fintiri contest in Lamurde today,he will win .This is the long and short that the state government and governor are not the reason for the protest vote. The reason can only be in deep-rooted problems in the area.
Only recently and in the last APC regime, the same Lamurde people were disenfranchised when their votes in a council poll were trampled upon and a Chairman imposed against their will. The story is there ! The same happened in KAREWA ward where the person who won was denied the seat outrightly because he belonged to the PDP then.
Today, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has shocked the opposition pby doing the RIGHT thing.
The APC needs to pick up the gauntlet by congratulating Governor Fintiri for being a democratic champion. It takes courage to admit this!!
(George Kushi is the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.)
