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Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on has directed the State Urban Development Board to immediately unseal Maiduguri headquarters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, describing the board’s decision as “wrong timing”.
Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, confirmed in a statement issued on Friday, that the Governor became aware of the board’s action and has directed that it should be reversed saying, “no matter the justification, the timing is wrong”.
The Police seal off the NNPP headquarters in Maiduguri on Friday morning on the ground of a letter from the Borno state urban planning and development board claiming that the office was located in a residential area and that was why they were ordered to seal it.
However, the sealing is coming 48 hours to the visit of the party Presidential Candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso scheduled for Saturday, August 27th.
Below is the statement issued by Governor Zulum’s spokesman:
“Although the board claimed to have acted in the same regard it acted against other offices, by sealing the NNPP’s headquarters for wrongful conversion of residential area for office purpose, Governor Zulum regards the board’s action as that of wrong timing.
“Zulum believes that no matter the justification, the board’s decision is bound to be given political interpretation and which could heat up the polity and cause needless distractions.
“For that reason, Governor Zulum had already directed that the board should suspend its own rule on this particular instance bordering on the NNPP.
“The Governor believes that reversing the decision is in the overall public interest for peace.
“Governor Zulum believes that all political parties should be free to lawfully operate and citizens should be free to associate with political parties of their choices without hindrances.
Zulum also advised authorities dealing with issues that could involve political parties to consider the need to invite stakeholders of all existing parties for consultations and to jointly agree on conducts that should align with existing state laws and without undermining the freedom and independence of all political parties to operate in Borno State”