By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad of Bauchi state has admitted that there is a serious disconnect and mistrust between citizens and the government.
Muhammad who noted there was growing hunger and hardship in the land, advised the federal government to make amends on its policies as a step forward to arrest the ongoing nationwide protest.
Senator Bala assured residents of Bauchi State that his administration would do everything humanly possible to ensure their safety and security amidst nationwide hunger protests that have resulted in violence in parts of the state.
Speaking at Government House, Bauchi, after an expanded emergency Security Council meeting, the governor lamented that the hunger protests that engulfed the country was a wakeup call.
Muhammad explained that the meeting brought all stakeholders – market associations, trade unions, the organized private sector, transport organisations, security agencies, emir of Bauchi, Ulamas, and clergymen to discuss the protest against bad governance.
The protest had escalated forcing the governor to impose a 24- hour curfew in Azare, the second largest city in the state on Monday, as hoodlums took advantage of the situation to unleash mayhem
Tension boiled earlier when the police allegedly assaulted a physically challenge protesters on first day one of the protest as protesters were prevented from moving to Government House in a disorganized manner.
The governor reportedly condemning the alleged assault against the physically challenged man and promised to get to the root of it.
Briefing journalists after the emergency Security Council meeting, the governor assured residents that the security agencies had the situation under control.
“We have also been briefed by the security agencies and the situation is under control, and of course the mayhem that had been unleashed in Azare and outskirt of Bauchi,” he said.
“The security agencies linked some youths and miscreants that hijacked a natural democratic process of expressing discontent against the government by the organisers.
“We will do what we need to do to make sure lives and properties are protected.
“We have also discussed within ourselves and we looked at the double edge sword nature of the whole process – the process of showing grievances which is natural and appreciated and of course that we have heeded your calls and pleas of the youths about their own problems and challenges.
“It (the protest) will serve as a wakeup call at the various levels of leadership from the federal, state and local governments and that we are not going to play politics with this protest.
“Protests is not about political party, it is not about federal government, it’s not about the subnational or local authority, it is about governance at all levels.
“If you segregate it down it is about leadership at all levels even the traditional ruler and what have you.
“We have seen the manifestation of the anger where even the almajiri schools were vandalized, our Islamic schools were vandalized apart from our government offices.
“That shows we have heeded the call but certainly we have taken firm measures to make sure this thing did not happen by declaring a 24 hour curfew in Azare and making sure we are going to assure all citizens and people of Bauchi of their safety and security through persuasion and ensuring that the security agencies go by the rules of engagement to ensure that there is no arbitrariness, subjectivity, there is no arbitrary use of force but at the same being firm to ensure that security of lives and properties are protected.
