Lawmaker chased with stones in his own Constituency

Hon Garba Hamman Julde (APC), who represents Bali-Gassol Federal constituency of Taraba state in theHouse of Representatives, got a raw deal from constituents on Saturday, March 31, 2017; as he was pelted with stones even though he came bearing gifts.

A source in Taraba told Pulse that the angry constituents cited failed representation and abandonment of constituents for more than two years, as reasons why they descended on their lawmaker.

Hon Julde had just presented 11motorcycles and one car to ward executives and local government chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bali LGA of the State, when the stones began to rain.

One eye witness told journalists that the lawmaker escaped with minor bruises before he was whisked away by police personnel on duty at the venue of the event.

The event held at the Central Primary School, Bali.

Speech

The eye witness, Musa Sandirde, said:“Trouble started after he ended his speech at the rostrum and was making his way to present keys of the motorcycles to the beneficiaries.

“There and then, some youths started chanting ‘ba mu so’ in Hausa while at the same time throwing sand, stones and sachets of water at him. Police then quickly intervened and moved him to safety.”

Sandirde added that the constituents expressed their displeasure at the manner of Julde’s representation and vowed to ensure he did not return to parliament in 2019.

Abandoned

A party executive at Bali LGA, Ibrahim Daka, added: “He has completely abandoned the people that sent him to Abuja. For more than two years, he went missing, only for him to show up this weekend to say he was presenting eleven motorcycles and one car to ward and LGA party chairmen.

“He did that because election is here and they are the people who will serve as delegates to elect party flag bearers again. But the people he abandoned turned against him and showed their anger. How can you abandon the people and come here to give bicycles to a few people?

“We are not happy with him and we made our position clear to him,” he added.

A plan to hold a similar exercise in Mutum Biyu, Gassol LGA, has been shelved for fear of breakdown of law and order.