Attack on Tamale contractor; call Bugri Naabu to order – Alhassan Suhuyini appeals to Bawumia

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale North Constituency, Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini has condemned the attack on the contractor working on the Gumani storm drain in the Sagnarigu Municipality, describing the act as barbaric.

Alhaji Suhuyini fears if work is not expedited on the storm drain, it could spell another disaster in the event of a heavy downpour.

Last year, 59 year-old Hajia Fati Bapuni was swept away by flood at the drain during a heavy downpour. Many people were displaced and several properties destroyed in the process.

The vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia later visited the scene of the incident and ordered the speedy construction of the drain to avert a recurrence of the floods.

Subsequently the contract was awarded to the said contractor to work on the drain before the start of the rains, according to the Regional Director at the Urban Roads Department.

But some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by one Alhaji Joe Kadiri stormed the project site and chased out the contractor for the reason that he is an NDC contractor.

The action of the youth has stalled work at the drain, leaving residents wondering what may befall them when the rains come.

The regional chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu endorsed the action of the youth and said he had ordered them to chase out the contractor.

Mr Naabu, in an interview with Radio Tamale, added that the youth should have beaten up the contractor in the process.

“They [the youth] didn’t just go and start chasing them. They went there and asked him [contractor]; which company is this? He couldn’t tell them. They asked them, where was the contract awarded from? He couldn’t tell them. The only thing he told them was that they said he should come and start the work, later the award letter will come. That’s where they got to know that there is a fishy deal in it and that’s why they chased them out and I fully endorse it. They should have even collect[ed] the machines and handed them over to the police and beat them up. I’m sorry they didn’t do that,” he stated.

But in a press statement issued by the Tamale North legislator, Alhaji Suhuyini described the behaviour of the regional chairman as shameful and called on the vice president to call him to order.

“This barbaric act of the thugs believed to be NPP members came as a shock to many including myself, the Member of Parliament for the area. The shameful aspect of the whole drama is the endorsement of such crude behavior by the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Daniel Bugri Naabu. Such conducts are repugnant and backward and must not be allowed to thrive in our modern democratic process.

“I therefore respectfully call on the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia who equally expressed grief following last year’s disaster that claimed the life of his former school mate Hajia Fati, to as a matter of urgency call the Regional Chairman of his party and the said one Alhaji Joe Kadiri to order,” he appealed.

Alhaji Suhuyini said disagreement over who should execute the contract should not affect the progress of work at the site.

Below is the full statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

My attention has been drawn to recent events in Connection with the construction of the Gariba lodge drainage system that boarders Gumani and Kanvili in the Tamale North Constituency which is also situated on the Tamale Bolga Road, under the Sagnarigu Municipality.

Only three weeks ago the inhabitants of the area as well as the general public heaved a sigh of relief when news broke that a contractor was instructed to go to site to commence work on the drainage that has caused annual disasters in the area. The state of the drainage have led to the needles loss of lives, the recent one being that of Hajia Fati Bapuni and rendered many homeless annually.

The relief of residents was however short lived, when thugs under the leadership of a leading member of the NPP in the Northern Region chased out the Contractor who started diligent work from site with a lame and flimsy argument that the contractor is an NDC member.

The rains have started early this year and everyone is seated on tenterhooks not knowing what will happen should there be heavy rains as happened last year. This barbaric act of the thugs believed to be NPP members came as a shock to many including myself, the Member of Parliament for the area. The shameful aspect of the whole drama is the endorsement of such crude behavior by the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Daniel Bugri Naabu. Such conducts are repugnant and backward and must not be allowed to thrive in our modern democratic process.

I therefore respectfully call on the Vice President,Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia who equally expressed grief following last year’s disaster that claimed the life of his former school mate Hajia Fati, to as a matter of urgency call the Regional Chairman of his party and the said one Alhaji Joe Kadiri to order.

If there are any disagreements within the NPP as to who grabs what and when, that should not be an impediment to the progress of work at the site which is meant to save the lives of all citizens irrespective of their party affiliation. I also wish to use this medium to commend all media houses and individuals who took up the matter when it first occurred and urge them and the chiefs and opinion leaders in the affected communities to forcefully continue to seek the welfare of the area without let or hindrance.

Thank you

SIGNED ALHAJI ALHASSAN S. SUHUYINI

(MP)

TAMALE NORTH

Source: radiotamale