SAN FRANCISCO, November 16, (THEWILL) – As preparations for the 2015 general elections begin in earnest, a youth group under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Hawul and Askira-Uba Local Government Areas of Borno State has started rooting for a former Commissioner for Religious Affairs in the state, Hon. Usman Mamman Durkwa, as a replacement for the incumbent representative , Hon. Abdul Mshelizza, whom they described as “ineffective” , in the House of Representatives.
The move followed complaints by APC members in the area about their representation in the House of Representatives.
Operating under the aegis of Hawul and Askira Uba Youth Movement ( HAUYM), the group expressed the need to change their representation at the House of Representatives, saying the incumbent has not impacted positively on the area.
At a media briefing in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Sunday, the youths said they have obtained the APC nomination form and Expression of Interest for Durkwa so as to bring development to their area, hinging their decision on what they described as the proven track record of Durkwa not only in the constituency but the state as a whole.
Chairman of the group, Hon. Hassan Audu Kwajaffa, said they already have the support of over 3,000 registered members of APC and loyalists for their action as they lamented that since the inception of present democracy in the country, nobody in the southern part of the state has sacrificed more for the political association that metamorphosed into the APC than Durkwa.
They however said Durkwa has been continuously relegated to the background.
The group further alleged that Abdul Mshelizza has failed the electorate in the last four years with nothing positive to show to the people of the area.
“It is very unfortunate to inform you that the people of Hawul and Askira- Uba have not benefitted anything from Abdul Mshelizza, our member at the federal House of Representatives, no healthcare services, no clinics, no potable water, no electricity, our schools and hospitals are dilapidated, no roads, and above all poverty has eaten the lives of our people, especially those at the grassroots.
“And that is why we have resolved to render our full support for Durkwa to go and represent us this time around, because we have confidence in him more than any candidate or aspirants.
“As APC supporters, we will not change our party, because Durkwa whom we are supporting has never changed his party, and that any of his disposition, we will show the party that we can take him (Durkwa) to any political breakthrough by mere voting come 2015,” the group said.
According to them, “Hon. Durkwa has served as Commissioner in various ministries, such as Land and Survey, Environment, Religious Affairs, and all these ministries are proud of him. He has bred so many politicians in Askira- Uba and Hawul Local Government Areas as well as the state as a whole, and we feel it is high time for him to move to another level.”
