Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has ordered the State’s Urban Planning and Development Committee (BUPDC) to reopen the sealed New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) Secretariat complex in Maiduguri.
The Abbaganaram party State office was sealed off Thursday by the Police over complaints of the Committee to allegedly violate development plans in the metropolis.
According to him, the sealing of the State’s party office, was wrongly timed, as political parties’ campaigns for the 2023 General Elections commences next month.
The Spokesman to the Governor, Isa Gusau, yesterday (Friday), in Maiduguri, stated that Zulum was aware of the board’s action and directed the Committee to reverse the office closure.
“No matter the justification of closing the party office, the timing is wrong,” he noted.
“BUPDC has been carrying out series of reforms which included sealing of some buildings occupied by individuals, corporate bodies, including government institutions,” he said.
He added that they contravened laws relating to non-compliances to Maiduguri planning procedures.
Although the Committee claimed to have acted in the same regard against other offices, by sealing the NNPP’s headquarters for what Zulum described as: “The wrongful conversion of residential area for office purpose.”
He noted that no matter the justification, the board’s decision is bound to be given a political interpretation.
He warned that the seal off party office; could heat up the polity and cause needless distractions towards next year’s general elections in the State.
He, therefore, directed the Committee to suspend its rules on this particular instance relating to the party office, as the decision is in the public interest for peace.
According to him, all political parties should be free to lawfully operate, while the people should be free to associate with political parties of their choice without any hindrance.
“The free associations with 68 political parties, are in accordance with existing state laws and without undermining the freedom and independence of parties to operate in Borno,” he said.
Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
August 26, 2022.
