ADAMAWA: “Bama Yi!” – Angry Kirchinga Youths Shout Down APC Lawmakers, Council Chairman Over 4 Years Of Broken Promises
Angry youths in Kirchinga town in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Thursday disrupted a high-profile visit by All Progressives Congress leaders, shouting “Bama yi!” meaning “We are not interested!”.
The youths denied the politicians any opportunity to speak as they attempted to address them. The chant continued for several minutes, forcing the delegation to abandon their speeches.
In the delegation were the Member representing Michika and Madagali Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honorable Zakariya Dauda Nyampa. Also present was the Member representing Madagali Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Honorable Haruna Jilantikiri.
Others include the Chairman of Madagali Local Government, Yusuf Muhammed [O.C.], and the Director-General of the Adamawa State PowerCare Initiative, Dr. Michael Zira, among others.
Trouble began when Honorable Haruna Jilantikiri stood before the youths to speak. The youths immediately erupted and shouted him down, forcing him back to his seat without delivering his address.
A similar situation unfolded when Dr. Michael Zira attempted to speak. The crowd reacted angrily, accusing him of favouritism and nepotism. They alleged that he secured employment opportunities exclusively for his biological children while neglecting community youths.
The youths were heard shouting, “Bachi hanya, Oga! Yarasa nawa aiki? Duka short service!” They also lamented that numerous job opportunities are being awarded elsewhere, but they have not seen a single benefit on the ground in Kirchinga.
As the situation escalated, the Chairman of Madagali Local Government Area, Yusuf Muhammed [O.C.], stepped in to engage the youth leader and appealed for calm. This allowed the youth representative to voice the grievances they had harboured over the past four years.
The youth leader said four years have elapsed and they have seen no tangible results on the ground. He said they do not know if it takes twelve years for the lawmakers to fulfil their campaign promises.
He added that they are tired of political deceptions and empty promises. According to him, they are left living like nonentities in the town, with diploma and degree holders sitting idle without jobs.
The youth leader accused the lawmakers of paying school fees for over a hundred children in Michika and distributing tricycles [Keke NAPEP] in Michika, yet Kirchinga has not received a single benefit.
He said truthfully in Kirchinga, foreign individuals they do not know were recruited into positions, while none of their local youths got selected. He insisted that it should not just be about coming to talk to them today, leaving, and forgetting them completely.
While the youths accuse their representatives of non-performance and marginalization, the politicians continue making further pledges. Time will tell how this political standoff unfolds.
