Democracy Day: National Assembly Members, Political Gladiators, Workers, Others Shun Adamawa Summit
Dongas Futu
Yola: Major Key political gladiators, National Assembly members, the opposition political parties have boycotted the Adamawa summit organized Monday to Mark the Democracy Day in the state.
The boycott of the event which is supposed to be the largest gathering of politicians that cut across the strata of the state is an indication that the political differences which has virtually hampered the development of the state seems not to be over.
Beside the federal lawmakers, others that shunned the meeting are key political actors which include the secretary to the government of the federation, Mr B.D Lawal, present and former ministers, Governors from the state as well as opposition parties.
Political observation in the state thought that the summit was going to be a replica of the summits held in some northern states such as Katsina and Kano which attracted important sons and daughters of the states including President Muhammad Buhari who was in Katsina to attend the Katsina summit.
Though the commissioner of information in the state Ahmad Sajo while flagging-off the event said that the summit was meant to brainstorm and highlights achievements recorded in the last one year, pundits however observed that they should have made it and all inclusive meeting for Adamawa people to discuss issues on how to move the state forward.
Muhammad Baba Numun and Mrs Na’omi Abu of Coalition of Adamawa Indigenes all noted with concern that,” This is a meeting with pre-arranged agenda, just to show government’s achievements in the past one year.
“But we have started seeing some politically motivated tune in the whole drama”.
“We thought they are going to make it a forum for Adamawa people to discuss issues on how to move the state forward. Not a meeting forum for propaganda and storytelling,” they stressed.
Also commenting, Mr Sunday Amos of Clear View Integrity Foundation said,” the event is a charade and a media publicity stunt to project the government unnecessarily.
“If the government really wanted the input of the people it should have incorporated NGOs, CSOs, and opposition political parties, but as it is none of them was invited for the said summit.
“I am just watching the live broadcast of the event but what I saw even made me cringe with anger as only the governor, Lamido of Adamawa the SSG, commissioner of information and deputy speaker were allowed to speak, so they couldn’t represent the voices if the Adamawa people, “frowned Amos.
When contacted on phone the state secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state Barr .A.T Shehu said,” I am just hearing the news from you for the first time of the forum.
“May be our input is not important to them, that’s why they decided to sideline us the opposition, “said he.
Also commenting on why federal lawmakers were absent in the meeting, a federal lawmaker who doesn’t want his name in print said,” I cannot speak to you on phone why we’re not in the event.
“Have you seen any of my colleagues there? It tells you that there is more to our absence than meets the eyes,” said the parliamentarian.
It was observed that most of the attendants at the political submit s consists of APC delegates, Governor Muhammad Jibrilla’s political aides and praise singers.
