By Nicolas Adekeye
Ahead of forthcoming Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, Borno State Labour Party Guber candidate, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, has accused the ruling state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum who is also the APC candidate of inciting Violence and mayhem in the state.
Mshelia, during a press conference with journalists, held Monday at the LP secretariat in Abuja, raised the alarm, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Zulum and also ensure adequate protection of citizens during the elections come saturday.
Describing statements credited to Zulum at a campaign in Biu, Borno State, as unhealthy and toxic and also manipulative, says that Governor Zulum who spoke in hausa during the campaign said whatever it takes he will ensure his party, APC, win all the state house of assembly elections as well as the governorship seat by all possible means during the march 18th gubernatorial poll in the state.
“During the forthcoming elections, we are voting for governorship. Stand up and make sure our votes are high. Let’s also have all the nine seats in the state House of Assembly in Southern Borno. I don’t want any of them to lose. I am the governor; I have apologised to everyone in this zone.
“But I would like to tell you something. Only God gives power. I don’t have the capability to give power. But I swear, in my capacity, I won’t leave anyone that will insult the traditional leaders to get into the House of Assembly. God gives power but if God gives them power, “Biri Mini, Kare Jini…” Zulum was quoted.
He added that Zulum vowed that no party that will challenge any traditional ruler will be allowed to win election in the state as he remain the sitting governor.
Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, who is the CEO of West Link Airlines, while condemning the utterances however maintain that his ambition will not be detered by the development and neither will the hopes of his followers.
“I am in this race because it is my desire to elevate the quality of lives of Borno citizens and also to develop the human resources of the state. I strongly condemn this statement as electoral violence can breed unimaginable consequences and a governor should not be seen to promote election violence.
“I am peace-loving and I have been running my campaigns based on real issues and not issuing threats to opposition parties like the governor has done… some agents of political instability have perfected plans to turn the forthcoming elections into a battlefield and are just waiting to unleash violence. They think this is the only way to railroad themselves into victory. They must be stopped.
“…as law-abiding citizens, we have decided not to lock horns with the rejected and the desperate but rather walk the path of peace to assured victory.”
