Youth detained by police for criticizing Bauchi LG Chairman

A youth, Usman Sabo, has been reportedly detained by police in Bauchi State after criticizing the Chairman of Shira Local Government Area, Babangida Ishaq, popularly known as Maliya. Daily Trust reoorted that a family source said Sabo was arrested by officers from the GRA Police Division on Friday following Facebook posts where he accused the chairman of neglecting the local government football team and delaying workers salaries. He was then taken to Bauchi. Another source suggested the arrest was politically motivated, noting that Sabo is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Ishaq belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In his Facebook posts, Sabo criticized the chairman for allegedly failing to sponsor the Shira Local Government team in the Kaura Unity Cup, an inter-local government football competition. He also condemned Ishaq for delays in paying salaries and attempting to evict government workers from staff housing. In one post, Sabo wrote, Power is transient. Before you there were about five local government chairmen. After you many will come. It is wrong to oppress people just because we are their leaders. He added, In Shira local government, some workers are yet to receive their July salary. They are being owed allegedly because they dont go to work. We are in the rainy season. Do you want people to abandon their farms? On the housing issue, he said, It is wrong to give notice to workers occupying government houses Those in active service have every right to occupy the houses. In another post, Sabo accused the local government of refusing to fund the football teams travel, saying, God has afflicted us with a leader who does not do what is right. The arrest sparked criticism from lawyer Mukhtar Muhammad, who called the detention oppressive. He said the police should protect citizens, not act as attack dogs for corrupt leaders. Muhammad said the police did not even read Sabos posts before arresting him. This is nothing but oppression, plain and simple, he said. As long as shameless politicians keep using the police as their personal weapon against anyone who dares to speak the truth, things will never change in this country. Responding, Shira Local Government Chairman Babangida Ishaq said Sabo was arrested for spreading falsehoods aimed at tarnishing his image and administration. He denied failing to support the football team, saying he personally donated N500,000 and arranged transport, but the team was unable to attend the tournament. Ishaq also acknowledged housing challenges for some directors who are non-indigenes and said those asked to vacate government quarters were given two months notice with plans for government-paid rent for two years. On salary delays, Ishaq said payments were withheld only from staff who failed to report to work, after verifying the existence of ghost workers. He noted that this included relatives of politicians from his own party, the PDP.The post Youth detained by police for criticizing Bauchi LG Chairman appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.