By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
Irked by the alleged poor representation by the Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Muntaka Namadi, aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from his Ringim local government, have stormed the Government House to demand his sack.
The protesters, in their hundreds from the 10 political wards and 220 polling units in the local government said they have lost confidence in the commissioner as their representative in the government of Umar Namadi and appealed to the governor to urgently remove him and replace him with another person.
The Chief of Staff, (CoS) to the Governor, Sen. Mustapha Makama Kiyawa, alongside the state APC Chairman, Aminu Sani Gumel, who received the message from the protesters on behalf of the governor, promised to deliver to their message to the governor.
Speaking while delivering the message, the Ward Chairman of Ringim, Muhammad Abdullahi Ringim, who led the delegation accused the Commissioner of among others, abandoning his constituency by denying them the dividends of democracy.
According to him, “We have come here to formally lay a complaints against the Commissioner for Agriculture, Muntaka Namadi because of poor representation of our community. We have spoken to him severally to carry everybody along in the area, but he has developed cold feet to our demand.
“Our position is in compliance with the governor’s instructions to all his political appointees to carry along members of their constituents and assist them, but since our commissioner, who is from our local government has refused to heed the governor’s instructions, we have no option than to demand his removal from the cabinet as our representative and another person appointed.”
He confirmed that the delegation comprised all the political leaders and stakeholders from the 10 political wards and 220 polling units across the local government, have come together formally to “table our complaints before the governor, that we’re no longer confident in his leadership.
“Apart from the fact that, he does not assist the people from his constituency, his actions have dampened our morale as party faithful from the area. As a party leader from our local government area, he has not inspired us
The Protesters, comprising farmers, youths, community leaders and women marched to the Jigawa State Government House, Dutse from Ringim which is the constituency of the accused Commissioner, waving placards and banners.
The angry protesters who blocked the main entrance of the Government House were chanting different slogans, demanding the commissioner’s removal and expressing their disappointment in his performance.
Also speaking to journalists Amidst the protest Bashir Muhammad DanMalam stated that, the Commissioner in questions, has not brought any meaningful projects and is not representing them well in the Government,”
He declared that, “It’s time for him to resign or continue to face series of vote of no confidence from us,” he warned.
The leader of the protest therefore, alleged neglect and incompetence from the side of the Commissioner.
“This is a triumph for democracy and accountability, so we took this protest to demonstrate the power of collective action and commitment to good governance.” Bashir DanMalam concluded.
Efforts of the security personnel at the main gate of the Government House and some Government officials including the Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state Alhaji Aminu Sani Gumel while trying to intervene were rebuffed, as the Protesters insisted on taking their grievances directly to the State governor Umar Namadi.
The APC boss, who acknowledged the complaints of the protesters, appealed to them to be patient and allow the party and the governor to handle the situation.
He, however, commended their peaceful conduct and assured them that complaints would be addressed would be thourougly addressed to their satisfaction.
News5 days ago