Boko Haram: Adamawa acting Gov may not cast vote

From Umar Dankano, Yola

There are strong indications that Adamawa State Acting Governor and PDP candidate for the scheduled bye election, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri may not cast his vote as the dreaded Boko Haram continued to lay siege on Madagali and Michika border areas of the state.

Kirchinga village, the acting governor’s ward in Madagali local government area of the state, has been under the control of Boko Haram sect members for nearly a month with reports saying that his personal residence has been turned to recruitment base by the insurgents.

Investigation by our correspondent in Yola revealed that thousands of his kinsmen   who also constituted a reasonable number of his supporters will also be disenfranchised as most of them are now displaced and taking refuge at various IDPs centres across the state with some crossing the border to Cameroun.

A fleeing resident from the area who simply identified himself as Bitrus Kirchinga told reporters in Yola that they are hopeful that the situation may not affect their kinsman now in the helm of affairs.

“We are afraid that His Excellency and thousands of us, will not be able to cast our vote, because of Boko Haram. They are everywhere riding on bikes taking over the residences of the acting governor and that of others.

‘’They (Boko Haram) slaughtered many people and this spurred   the eligible voters to run away. We hope the situation will improve,’’ said Kirshinga.

Also corroborating, Mrs Mariam Daniel said for almost two months Madagali and some communities in Michika were chased away by the insurgents and no hope to return in time.

“How do you expect us to return back very soon, no, people are in despair and agony. We don’t have confidence that   things will improve. Soldiers have   run away, it will take us time to return, please just forget about the election.

“We are waiting to see, where the acting governor will go and cast his vote, in Kirchinga? No, it has been over run by Boko Haram. Let me tell you even his house has been taken over by their Imam, while that of the former adviser to president Jonathan ,Ahmad Ali Gulak was said to have been dashed to their new Amir”, said Mrs Daniel, now taking refugee on the hilltop.

But when contacted over the possibility of conducting the election, state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Barr. Kassim Gana Gaidam, allayed the fear, stressing that, ‘’if things improved there will be election there.

‘’We are studying the situation with the other stakeholders comprising security chiefs and the political parties that will participate.

“It’s our fervent prayer that the situation will improve for better,’’ said Gaidam.