The sudden pullout by the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru Limuna
from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary contest has angered
his loyal supporters in the Damongo Constituency, who have resorted to
unimaginable destruction of party properties.
The
weapon wielding youth who were baying for the blood of the Minister who at time
of reporting is cruising in somewhere Brazil for his annual leave, completely
vandalized the Damongo Constituency NDC office complex and the private office
of the Minister.
All
windows, doors, computers, air-conditioners, ceiling fans, furniture,
electricity installations and other relevant documents were mercilessly
destroyed by the youth, who were chanting; “No Alhaji Muniru No vote for the
NDC”, “let’s practice democracy in NDC”,’ “we have suffered for long”,
and Alhaji Muniru must pick the form” among others.
The
angry youth, who demonstrated through some principal streets of Damongo,
described the Alhaji Muniru as “traitor” who had “stabbed them in the back”.
Personal
Assistant to the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Dramani Ecomok in an interview
with Savannahnews confirmed the incident and described it as
highly unfortunate.
According to him, even though he appreciated the
unflinching support the youth had given to his boss since he declared his intension
to contest the Damongo seat, it was in a bad taste for them to cause such
destruction. He explained that, the Minister withdrew from the race just in the interest of peace, and
in the interest of the party.
The Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Mohammed
Limuna declared his intension to contest the Damongo Parliamentary Primaries
with the incumbent Member of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu. The MP earlier
accused the Minister of using his position and state resources to campaign in
the area, when nomination had not even opened. Since
then, the NDC youth in the constituency have been sharply divided between the
Minister and the MP, creating tension within the party.
Savannahnews gathered that the Minister was
asked to step down by the President John Dramani after some supporters of the
MP had threatened to cause possible bloodbath.
But
the Personal Assistant to the Minister said he could not confirm the assertion
or rumour, since his Boss had not told him any such story. "What I know is that
the followers of the MP and our followers were almost at all times engaging in
insults and physical attacks, so my Minister decided to withdraw for peace to
remain in the NDC. Our interest is to maintain the Damongo seat for the NDC and
that is what we expect to see in 2016 from whoever will contest on NDC ticket”.
Mr.
Ecomok described the path chosen by the youth as gross insubordination and that
violence was not a solution to address their grievances in the NDC.
He
therefore made a passionate appeal to the angry youth to abandon all their
violent actions to ensure party cohesion.
However,
the Spokesperson of Friends of Alhaji Limuna, Asumah Sherif told a local radio
station in Tamale that the youth would not relent in their effort of ensuring
that Alhaji Limuna rescinds his decision of backing out from the contest.
He
said that, the Minister during his 48th Birthday celebration in
Damongo reportedly galvanized for strong support from the people to oust the
incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Adam Mutawakilu. They
are therefore surprised and disappointed by Alhaji Limuna’s announcement to
withdraw from the race.
The
District Chief Executive (DCE), Bakari Ali also confirmed the incident in an
interview with Savannahnews but denied most of the items
believed to be destroyed. According to him, the youth only broke the doors of
the party and Minister’s office, adding that, the intervention of the
Police had brought about calm in the area.
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