Crisis Rocks Yola North Local Govt Area As Police Seals Up Council Secretariat

Tom Garba

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Adamawa state command,S.P Othman Abubakar told journalists in Yola, Thursday that the command has to take a drastic decision to scuttle a fore see rivalry crisis between the two factional Local Government executive Chairmen and the vice chairman of Yola North local council area.

S.P Abubakar said the crisis was becoming more tense and chaotic due to the utterances of the supporters of the warring parties noting that if allowed it may snowball to a big magnitude that can consume the entire local government Area.

The command has finally sealed up the Yola North local Government Council secretariat due to the long leadership tussle between the executive chairman and Vice chairman of the council in order to ensure absolute maintenance of law and order.

“This action became necessary for us (police) to maintain law and order to avoid destruction of government properties.

“The police will not side any among the warring parties and the outcome of the court litigation shall determine who returns to the chairman’s Office,” Abubakar stated.

He therefore appeal to the parties involved to be law abiding and to ensure their supporters do not take laws in to their hands urging them to sheat their swords for peace to rein.

The feud between the two council factional leaders has been lingering for a while now, but the situation has now assumed an uncontrollable as the side of the chairman feels betrayed by the Vice Chairman, Mr. George Rapheal, whom they accused of reading the script of external forces making the council ungovernable to Honourable Abba due political interest.

Already, the gates of the secretariat have been under lock and key with heavy anti-riot police detachment keeping vigil for any possible intruder.

Our investigations revealed that the Vice chairman, Mr.George Rapheal and his group were allowed entry in to the secretariat on Wednesday despite the presence of security operatives at the secretariat.

The embattled chairman, Abba’s faction sensing what is happening Thursday morning stormed the local government secretariat with his supporters and forcing their way in to the secretariat disregarding police order by the gate.

The two sides are reported to be flexing mussels and the situation might degenerate in to full blown crisis if not nib in the bud in time.

Addressing his supporters at the premises of the council. Chairman Abba described the episode of allowing his Vice and his cohorts to the secretariat on Wednesday as disappointing and disturbing.

Abba said the court verdict is what everyone is waiting for to settle the matter once and for all lamenting that any move to allow the other group to use the secretariat will be opposed vehemently.

Political pundits in the state observed that the crisis is destroying the council administratively as most of other councils in the state are providing dividends of democracy to their electorate but reverse is the case in Yola North which is unhealthy.