| By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri |
The lives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State are been treated as if they were worthless, an aggrieved senatorial candidate in the state Jubrin Tatabe, alleged on Monday.
Addressing a press conference in Maiduguri, Tatabe, contesting Borno Central Senatorial seat led other five candidates for the same seat, Mamman Isa (New Progressive Movement, NPM), Goni Mustapha (Yes Electorates Solidarity, YES), Ali Modu (Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA), Abdulkareem Isa (Nigeria Community Movement Party, NCMP), alleged that the IDPs were moved for electoral gains to unsafe communities.
Tatabe reading a statement said: “We the undersigned candidates contesting election for Senator under Borno Central senatorial district wish to draw the attention of REC, Borno State and the entire world that we are opposed to the IDPs relocation arrangement made by the State government.
“It is worthy to note that most of the internally displaced persons in Borno State were camped in various locations within the state capital Maiduguri. These people were brought to Maiduguri because of the security situation in their respective local governments; but to our astonishment they were moved to other locations outside the State capital.
“it was equally on record that the convoy of the State governor who happened to be the chief security officer of the State was recently attacked in Gamboru one of the locations where the IDPs were relocated with a view to casting their votes.
“This action is a clear indication that the lives of these IDPs are worthless.”
Tatabe lamented that: “As candidates we have canvassed and mobilized these IDPs at their various locations within the metropolis but sadly INEC whom supposedly was expected to be an unbiased umpire and its accomplices decided to frustrate our efforts.
“The State Governor who happened to be a candidate in the forth coming election had already relocated the IDPs with vehicles owned by the State government as well as gave them stipend which invariably translate to vote buying under the watchful eyes of the Commission.”
He alleged that: “We equally understand that one of the Candidates for Borno Central senatorial district contesting under the platform of the ruling party claimed that we have endorsed him. His claim are absurd and false. We have never agreed with him.”
Tatabe equally alleged that the statement made by INEC in the state that the decisions on where to hold elections for the IDPs was made after consultation with the stakeholders was a lie as no one called them to a meeting or seek their consent.
