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Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has suspended the activities of both local and foreign non-governmental organisations in the state till after the general election.
Mr Fintiri, who made the suspension known in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, accused both the local and international organisations of meddling in ‘politics’ in the guise of humanitarian service.
“It has been discovered that most Non-Governmental Organisations have swallowed the bug and are dabbling into politics in the name of providing humanitarian assistance to the people.
“In view of the foregoing and in furtherance of our desire to reorder the electoral behaviour of our people and remove the influence of the NGOs who have reduced the statutory mandate to that one of a vote buying machine, Government has decided to suspend the activities of local and international Non-Governmental organisations throughout the State until 15th of March, 2023, when the elections are done. This is done in good faith and in furtherance of our desire to deepen our democracy and protect the humanitarian mandate of the NGOs,” the governor declared in the state-wide broadcast.
Mr Fintiri is seeking a second term in office and would be participating in the March 11, 2023, governorship election of Adamawa.
A strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Fintiri would be battling the ballot with his main challenger, Aishatu Binani, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Speaking further, the Adamawa governor explained that his government cannot fold its arms and watch the international organisations mislead the people “and inject divisive tendencies into their psyche.”
He added that there was a need to put the interest of the nation first, as the country is already tense.
“Let us learn to put the interest of the country above any other primordial interest. There is no time to waste. We all know the threats that further hesitation will bring,” Mr Fintiri noted.
He appreciated the people of the state for trooping out en – mass to exercise their civic rights during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to him, the conduct of the people during and after the general elections has been peaceful, orderly, exemplary, and commendable.
“This is the true reflection of Adamawa as the Home of peace and a bastion of democracy.
“I urge you to remain calm while we await the announcement of the final outcome of the exercise,” he added.
While commending the role of the security agencies in the maintenance of peace and order during the election, Mr Fintiri warned troublemakers or miscreants not to attempt to disrupt or cause a breakdown of law and order.
“We cannot allow a return to the gloomy era of disruption and chaos. The Peaceful coexistence the state enjoys did not come on a platter of gold. It is a hard-earned one. Any attempt to tamper with it would therefore be decisively dealt with. I have ordered patrols and surveillance by the Security Personnel to keep everything in check.
“For the peace loving people of Adamawa State, you have nothing to worry about as government has put all the necessary security measures in place in keeping with our promise of safeguarding the lives and property of our people,” he said.
He, however, noted that no election was worth the life of any citizen of the state, urging them to uphold peace and allow the process go on until the winner emerges.
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