(By Paul Orude – BAUCHI)
Some youth, in Bauchi, on Sunday, accosted the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, along the Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa Road to demand for money from the number four citizen.
The violent-looking youths mounted roadblocks around Kagadama area of Yelwa at about 3:00 pm as Dogara’s convoy, which was heading to Bauchi town from Bogoro, his home town, made its way through.
Some of them accused the Speaker and his associates of being extravagant and wasteful during the celebration of his 50th in birthday in Abuja and Bogoro, his hometown, even as they lamented that there was much hunger in the country.
Tyres and wooden posters of Haliru Jika, a member of the House of Representatives represemting Ganjuwa/ Darazo were used to block the road in a bid to make the Speaker stop and give them attention.
Jika is reported to be interested in the governorship race in the state in 2019 amidst reports that Dogara and his bitter enemy, Governor Mohammed Abubakar, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are at the verge of reconciling their differences.
But an eye witness chided the youth saying they should look for neaningful things to do rather than creating unnecessary confusion, demanding and blackmailing politicians for money.
As the long line of convey was forced to stop, some Dogara’s security aides came out of vehicles welding guns. They kicked off the tyres and the wooden posters used by the youth to block the road while three of the jeeps took the wrong road as they sped off.
The angry youth were unable to detect which of the tinted glass vehicles the number four citizen was in, as they cursed and swore.
“We expect him to stop, come out of his car and give us money,” said one of the youth who looked fierce and angry.
“He has money. We were told that he has been sharing money that is why l came here. But he dossapointed us”
Speaking in Bogoro yesterday at a lavish birthday party organised by friends and associates to mark his birthday, Dogara assured the people of Bauchi State that he will protect and defend their interest in arriving at any political decision ahead of 2019 general election.
Alluding to political developments in the State, he said that “wherever the interest of majority of the people dictate that we should go to, that is where you will find me, by the grace of God.”
Hon Dogara allayed fears expressed by the member representing Lere/Bula in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Aminu Tukur, over rumours of political realignment and reconciliation in the state and said that as a leader, he will never betray the trust of the people of Bauchi State.
Dogara maintained that the he would be guided by public interest and assured his political associates and followers that they would be consulted and carried along before taking any decision ahead of the 2019 election.
“As a leader, I’m not going to put a rope on anybody’s neck to drag him anywhere, never,” he said.
“But as leaders, our overwhelming concern should be the interest of our people, the development of our state and how we can better the lot of everyone in this state.”
“That being the case, it means that we will always have to protect the interest of our people first and not our own interest. And I believe in consensus, we are going to sit down as brothers and sisters on a table of brotherhood and all our stakeholders will be involved. Even if it is agreeing to disagree, let us agree to disagree”.
“That is a commitment, we will work on the project, and the project is that of our people. Wherever the interest of majority of the people dictate that we should go to, that is where you.*