2023 Elections: Borno lawmaker denies saying he’s ready to kill to win
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
A member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Nganzai Local Government Area, Honourable Gajiram, has threatened during a campaign tour of his constituency that they would take all necessary measures including killing, if that is what it would take, to ensure they become victorious in the coming election in 2023.
Addressing his supporters in Kanuri in a viral video, Gajiram, an Islamic scholar who is the Imam of one of the Jummat Mosque in Maiduguri, was elected member of Borno State House of Assembly when the incumbent member died and since then, he has been representing his people in the state house of assembly.
The statement made by Honourable Gajiram has generated lots of tension in his constituency, making people fear that the coming election may not be free and fair since a serving member who has vast Islamic knowledge can threaten in Kanuri the dominant language of the area that they are prepared to kill in order to secure victory in the coming election.
When Honourable Gajiram’s statement was widely reported by the media, he quickly issued a press conference in Maiduguri and denied that he never made such a statement, alleging that ordinarily, he is not supposed to watch the doctored and concocted video which was linked to him when he was issuing the death threat on those that will not elect them.
“I am an advocate against political violence, and that was why when I was addressing my party supporters, I drew their attention to some opposition parties who were campaigning calling on people to vote out APC or risk being killed, unfortunately, some mischief makers concocted the video and turn it upside down, he said.”
On no occasion, according to him, did he threaten anybody to vote for APC or risk being killed. “As a lawmaker and also an Islamic scholar, I have full respect for human life, and free and fair election, I am totally against electoral violence, as such, I am shocked when a speech I did not deliver was accredited to me”, he added.
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