KATSINA STATE GOVERNMENT TRIED ITS BEST TO PREVENT VIOLENCE DURING THE PROTEST

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... OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WENT INTO HIDING 

....SECURITY  WERE  CIVIL AND PROFESSIONAL

 Special  Report  by Katsina Times newspapers 

An investigation by Katsina Times has revealed that the Katsina State government did everything possible to prevent violence and breakdown of law and order during the nationwide protest. 

The state Acting Governor, Alhaji Faruƙ Lawal Jobe made sure that adequate security was deployed in order to protect government offices and other businesses from vandalism by the protesters.

The Acting Governor as well as the Chief of Staff Government House, Alhaji Jabiru Tsauri, and the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Faskari, and security agencies worked tirelessly during the period.

Even the State Governor, who is away on leave, closely monitored developments in the state during the period of the protest. 

Our investigation revealed that he was informed of every decision that was taken to make sure that law and order were maintained by security agencies during the protest. 

While he was being briefed, the governor also made contributions in the process of taking key decisions to make sure that peace prevailed.

The state government convened meetings with stakeholders that include politicians, civil society organizations and youths to plead with them to conduct the protest with decorum.

The Chief of Staff Government House Katsina, Alhaji Jabir Tsauri, even went into the nooks and crannies of the state to beg individuals and families particularly youth that will participate in the protest, not to vandalize people's property or make the protest violent.

The Acting Governor, Alhaji Farouƙ Jobe, appealed to youth particularly social media influences to avoid spreading fake news and rumors or pictures that could trigger violence during the period. 

Meanwhile on the day of the protest the state government organized the annual Yaumul Shukr prayers which was attended by Islamic scholars, elders and many prominent people in the state. 

On that day, the Acting Governor met with representatives of civil society organizations where he thanked them for choosing the path of dialogue rather than protest, he also asked them to assist government in bringing the situation under control. 

The civil society organizations presented a letter of their demands to the Acting Governor to forward it to the President.

The Acting Governor also held a press conference at the Government House where he sought the cooperation of journalists and the people of the state to contribute to the maintenance of law and order during the protest. 


A SAD DEVELOPMENT 

However, the most worrisome part was the way elected officials from the state particularly lawmakers that include Senators, House of Representative's members and State House of Assembly members down to the Local Government Chairman and Councillors all disappeared during this critical period.

None of them was seen in his constituency or Local Government Area holding meeting with youths and appealing for calm or trying to prevent violence during the protest.

Not even one of them was seen, as most of them went into hiding, including Members of the State House of Assembly and Councillors.


HEROES OF THE MOMENT 

Some leaders can be described as heroes because of the roles they played in ensuring that the nationwide protest does not turn violent or result in vandalism and looting in Katsina State.

1, Malam Dikko Umar Raɗɗa, PhD, even though was away on leave and medical checkup he maintained contact with stakeholders in the state to ensure that peace prevailed. 

2, Alhaji Farouƙ Lawal Jobe that was the state Acting Governor during the period worked day and night to ensure that the situation was calm.

3, Alhaji Jabir Tsauri, the Chief of Staff Government House went to the nooks and crannies to meet with youths and appealed to them that if they must protest, then they should make the protest peaceful.

4, Barr. Abdullahi Faskari, Secretary to the Katsina State Government also tried his best to ensure peace and calm in the state.

5, Many Islamic scholars preached in their mosques to appeal for calm before and during the protest.

6, The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations chose to use dialogue and they presented their demands to the state Acting Governor to present it to the President. 
7, The security agencies were very strategic, civil and professional.there action was very commendable.

THE QUESTION: what stopped other elected officials to come down to their constituencies and meet their people and calm down the situation at this critical period?
From councillors up to Senators?


Katsina Times
@ www.katsinatimes.com
Jaridar Taskar labarai
@ www.taskarlabarai.com.ng
The links newspaper 
@ www.thelinksnews.com
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