Mansur Aramide, Gombe
Barely four days to the governorship/National Assembly elections in Nigeria, no fewer than 100 lawyers yesterday gathered in Gombe State to protest the governor’s directive that security checkpoints and road blocks be dismantled ahead of the exercise.
They also condemned the trending audio of the governor threatening to remove or end the military career of the commandant of the 301 Artillery brigade Gombe for alleged refusal to compromise.
Also in the circulating audio, the governor was said to have perfected all plans that would ensure his certain victory this weekend.
Governor Muhammadu Yahaya last week ordered the dismantling of all security checkpoints across the state except those linking other states.
The lawyers under the banner: Human Rights and Public Interest Lawyers wondered why the governor did not dismantle security checkpoints before and during the penultimate Presidential and National Assembly elections, saying: “it is obvious to every right-thinking person that our governor has a lot to hide.
“He simply want to be sure that thugs have unhindered movements before and during the elections,” he alleged.
The lead speaker, Luka Haruna told newsmen that dismantling road blocks especially as the elections draw nearer was anti-people.
He urged the commandant of 301 Artillery brigade not to be deterred by the governor’s threat in ensuring that the will of majority Nigerians prevail on Saturday.
He said: “let it be told that the entire people of Gombe, “especially democratic stakeholders are with the commandant.”
Meanwhile, the state government has urged residents to disregard the audio, alleging the oppositions of planning to smear the image of the governor.
