Open letter to Jigawa governor

By Adamu Muhd Usman

It is true the 2019 campaigns have started! Every Nigerian should be conscious, careful and behave in a very mature way on what he or she writes, reads and how he or she responds most especially on the social media, especially on Facebook. We should preserve our relationships with people within and around us who may have different stands, opinions and interest about our preferred party or candidate.
I want to appeal to Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru to be on the look out, because there are certain groups of people in the state who want to sabotage your effort, advice you on unpopular policies and agenda, disorganize the state and its people, and destroy the humanitarian relationship that exist, create enmity, hatred, and encourage envy, hostility. They also lack respect for the political leaders in the state. They want be relevant and dominate the space. They want to set the government against the opposition.
In a situation whereby Gov Badaru is used by those people to deny the citizens from enjoying their constitutional rights of free association and political participation, it means the governor would be operating a tyranical government and he maybe regarded as a dictator. I totally agree with US politician and peace negotiator George Mit Chel, (1933- ) who once said “Peace, political stability and reconciliation are not too much to ask for. They are the minimum that a decent society provides.” Please allow the opposition to be.
Lamido and his administration accommodated insults and abuses from the people without having to reprimand anyone, and in its bid to entrench democratic values, his government had ensured the freedom of speech. PDP was not afraid of the APC, but was enjoying its activities because the opposition party remains its creation. It was his deliberate policy of promoting freedom of association that made it possible for those in the opposition to merge and challenge the ruling party in 2015.
Sule Lamido believes that, strong opposition is good for our democracy. APC should be very grateful to Lamido and his administration. His administration has promoted the right to vote and be voted for and strengthened the sanctity and integrity of democracy by ensuring that votes count, the 2015 elections is a case study.
Jigawa still remains our state, our place, our home and our pride most especially the way and manner Sule Lamido rescued and rebuilt it.
Because I have been in a dream state, dreaming of Jigawa of my dreams. Please governor Badaru, try to be fair, just and accommodate everyone because you are not the governor of APC members alone but the governor of Jigawa state.
So, the opposition should have a level playing field to exercise their constitutional rights most especially in political participation, activities, campaigns and the freedom of movement and expression without threat and fear of deprivation, intimidation, humiliation and victimization. I appeal to governor Badaru of Jigawa state to be a democratic leader, because we are in the new era of democracy, human dignity and free speech necessarily reign. Your Excellency, you should do everything possible to have a peaceful, progressive and a united Jigawa. May God guide us aright.

Adamu Muhd Usman
Kafin-Hausa Jigawa state. amu3333@yahoo.com