Yakubu Busari, Jos
The Concerned Elders Forum of Kantana Constituency of Kanam Local Government Council has given reasons why they want the former Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi alias Babayo recalled from the State House of Assembly.
“We have lost confidence in him as an elected member of the 8th Assembly,”, said spokesman of the group, Shem Yaute Damisa in an interview with our reporter at his Resident in Rayfield , Jos.
He bared his mind on the numerous crises rocking the APC in Kanam LGA to, dubious activities of some elders and Babayo’s political betrayal to the people of his constituent .
Damisa expressed displeasure that the manipulated ward congress held in Kanam and witnessed by Gagdi left many stakeholders in the cold, forcing them to write to the APC state exco to address their grievances, stating that it was their respect for Governor Simon Lalong that made them all keep quite .
“As a result of Gagdi’s scheming, the present Local Government Chairman is from Boggwom just as candidates for other positions too. So Gagdi is fighting us and also plotting to continue to cause conflict between us. that is why we have taken the decision to initiate processes for his recall.”
The former Accountant General to the former Governor Joshua Dariye administration has described the defection of the former Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi alias Babayo to the All Progressive Congress, APC , as a moved to protect his seat and to remain relevant in the state .
He alleged that “Gagdi defected to the APC to protect his seat after all the atrocities he committed and was not safe in People Democratic Party. Nobody was ready to accommodate him any longer but we all promised him in APC there will be no place for him to commit his antique.
“Since he was voted into power in 2015 he has abandoned his constituency and there is no single project link to him as member representing Kantana people, so the voice of our people must be heard .
“In all the 8 wards of Kantana constituency we have commence the process of collection of signatures in December, 2017 we are now in 2018 as a member representing Kantana your not aware of all the moved meaning your enjoy the constituency allowances alone.”, he said.
According to him, the recall process of ex -Deputy Speaker started with the signing and collection of signatures at the ward level.
“We are pleading for a united front among stakeholders in the area,”, he said, warning that unless urgent steps are taken in that direction the opposition, PDP may capitalise on the disunity and clinch victory in the LGA.
In his response, Gagdi faulted politicians in Kantana constituency on what he called their failure to brace themselves with the electoral guidelines of Independent Electoral Commission.
He condemned the move against him as use of political traitors to ferment trouble in Kanam LGA ,saying most “those pursuing me are acting blindly without them knowing the democratic tenet as they are just jumping into confusion to misled the electorates.”
