From: Gyang Bere, Jos
Deputy Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has refuted claims attributed to him that Garga District is a place of abode for Boko Haram.
The Concern Citizens of Garga community in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State had reportedly claimed that Gagdi was of the view that fleeing Boko Haram suspects are hiding in the community.
But in a reaction, Hon. Gagdi described those behind the allegations as ‘evil politicians’, who are envy of his political emancipation and are bent on poisoning the mind of his constituents against him ahead of 2019 general election.
The lawmaker, who was elected to the State Assembly in 2015, under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), addressed stakeholders from Kanam Kanam Local Government Area in Jos. He urged them to disregard the comments.
His words, “My motion on the floor of the House, on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, has nothing to do with Boko Haram, and I did not say Garga District in Kanam is an abode for Boko Haram. Those behind this statement are my political rivals who are envious of my political fortunes.
“I won my election into the State Assembly with a large chunk of votes from Garga District and some people who are nursing ambition to take over my position in 2019 don’t know what to do and the have resorted into political blackmail, but I assure them that they have been disappointed.”
A group under the Concern Citizens of Garga District, had addressed a press conference, in Jos, accusing the Deputy Speaker of raising a motion in the House to declared Garga community as a place of abode for Boko Haram. The group’s address was read by one by Alh. Ibrahim Aliyu Bawa,
Alh. Bawa claimed that Hon. Gagdi said Boko Haram were sighted in the community due to it proximity with Yankari Game Reserve which he said linked to Sambisa Forest.
But, the Deputy Speaker described the allegations as unfounded comments attributed to him with a calculated attempt to undo his political acceptability in the area.