The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Youth and Sports Development in Borno State, Sainna Buba, has apologised for threatening to “flog” opposition members who do not support the All Progressives Congress.
Buba, in a now-viral video, said, “The government is our government. Those who follow us will enjoy the honey; if you refuse, then you will be flogged,”.
However, he made a U-turn while addressing journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday, saying, “The remark was never intended to harm or violate the fundamental rights of the people to freedom of choice and association.
He said, “I wish to state, unequivocally, that my remark was never intended to harm or violate the fundamental rights of the people of our dear state to freedom of choice and association, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.
“However, in view of the concern it has continued to generate, I am using this medium to retract my earlier statement formally and to apologise to the entire people of Borno State and beyond for any offence it may have caused,” Buba added.
“Let me state in categorical terms that my comment does not in any way represent the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of His Excellency, Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum,” he stressed.
He further noted that the administration does not in any way undermine the rights of the citizenry.
“Rather, the party and the administration continue to uphold and respect every segment of our society, particularly our youth, who have remained steadfast supporters of both the party and the Zulum administration,” he maintained.
