Marafa Tackles Gov Yari Over Polls Shift

TRACKING>>Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC, Zamfara), has alleged that, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state, should be held responsible for the sabotage that led to the postponement of the country’s general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on the day of the presidential and national assembly elections, announced the postponement of the exercise by a week, blaming logistics challenges.

In a statement signed by Marafa in Abuja on Sunday, while describing the postponement as unfortunate, said Yari should be held responsible for it.

He said Yari boosted that if his candidates are not included in the ballot papers, there won’t be elections in the country.

“During the grand finale of his illegal campaign rallies in his hometown, Talata Mafara, Zamfara on Friday, 8th February, he rained abuses and said unprintable things on the person of INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood, and swore that unless his candidates are enlisted to contest, there won’t be Elections in Zamfara state and the entire country. Now it has come to pass, what next?

“I’m calling on the authorities to hold Yari and his accomplices responsible for this tresaonable sabotage against the country, Nigerians and humanity in general. Just search on the internet, including YouTube, you will see the stories and videos of where Yari stated emphatically that unless his candidates are accepted, elections won’t hold in zamfara state and Nigeria” he said.

Marafa recalled that, “When Yari conducted illegal primaries, I drew the attention of Nigerians and the world on the dangers inherent in accepting that abuse of our laws, instead of being reprimanded, Yari went ahead to the courts to legalise his illegality. Today, the APC has abandoned its earlier position, that its only had a consensus, to supporting Yari’s illegal election. This is very sad and unfortunate.

“I am not surprised that immediately after the announcement of the postponement, Yari’s boys rushed to the media, radio stations jubilating that they have succeeded. This unfortunate incidence should be probed and condemned by all lovers of the country.

This is the time to tell Yari and his co-travelers, that Nigeria is bigger than them and their collective ambitions.”

He added that, “Yari’s position, that if he doesn’t get it, nobody should, is against the teachings of Islam, our laws and morality combined.”

Marafa, a leading APC governorship aspirant in Zamfara, said: “ only a positive pronouncement from the court of appeal, not the desperation of a satanic lawyer and a mad Gov or any body can change the status quo of Zamfara APC”