Police/politicians launch war against violence in Bauchi
From SULE ALIYU, Bauchi

AS the 2007 general elections date line approaches, politicians and law enforcement agencies in Bauchi state have resolved to work together for the peaceful, conduct of the April general elections in the state.
Each of the over 50 registered political parties that has an office in the state, is to give the names of two of its representatives to serve as liaison officers between the respective parties and the law enforcement agencies.
At a joint meeting held Wednesday between representatives of the political parties and candidates contesting for various elective positions and the state police command headquarters, Bauchi, it was agreed that, the bond for peaceful conduct of electioneering campaign and subsequent elections be strictly adhered to.
The meeting, which was called at the instance of Bauchi state commissioner of police Mr. Yusuf Aminu Mohammad, was attended by representatives of political parties, including two gubernatorial candidates of the PDP and ANPP, Alhaji Mohammad Nadada Umar Zannan Misau and former aviation minister, Malam Isa Yuguda respectively.
It was also resolved that political parties should give adequate notice of intent to the police at least 48 hours to obtain a permit to hold political rally campaigns or any form of gatherings.
This, it was observed, was not only in consonance with the laid down procedures, but equally to give the police adequate time to put in place the necessary security arrangements in case of eventualities.
Police commissioner, Yusuf Mohammad assured his guests of the command’s readiness to provide a level playing ground to all political parties and their candidates, during the electioneering campaigns, without fear or favour recalling that, Bauchi has been known to be a peaceful place that produced the ever finest politicians in the country like late sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The meeting resolved that, peace should be maintained at all cost,’’ he said.
He, therefore, appealed to the political parties, particularly candidates contesting for various elections, to caution their supporters against vandalism and other forms of violence and preach to them the gospel of peaceful coexistence as the bedrock for national development.
He observed that, without peace, ‘’we couldn’t have been here discussing and interacting’’, warning that while the police have the capacity to contain any situation, defiant politicians will be made to face the wrath of the law, as a deterrent to others,’’ he concluded.
One of the speakers during the meeting included the former national organizing secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Inuwa Labaran, who is now the director general of Zanna Nadada gubernatorial campaign organisation, said that as politicians, they should be judged by their performances during and after the campaigns.
‘’We of the PDP, are of the opinion that, a bond be made to which the political parties will abide by. We owe it a duty and our responsibility to collectively agree on the mode of actions so that, Bauchi will remain in peace, while our sons and daughters will continue to live in peace.’’
In his contribution, the ANPP gubernatorial candidate and former aviation minister, Malam Isa Yuguda told the meeting that, he was at the fore-front in the fight against thuggery promotion in politics, when he opened vocational centres where over 2000 youths were trained in various trades that include carpentry tailoring, and dyeing among others.
‘’If that is my antecedent I will certainly at this point, not be associated with some thing that has got to do with thuggery.’’