Jaba LGA Polls Cancellation: Ham Stakeholders Say Allegations Of Disturbance Are Spurious
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Following the cancellation of the Local Government elections process in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State on Saturday, May 12, 2018, Ham Stakeholders rose from a crucial meeting during which they expressed sadness and consternation over what they described as “the spurious allegations” of disturbances that led to the cancellation of the elections.
Accordingly, the Ham stakeholders tendered an unreserved apology to His Royal Highness Kpop Ham for bringing opprobrium to his well-earned name, his office and entire Chiefdom that is known for peace thus reaffirmed their loyalty to and respect for the Stool and institution of Ham Chiefdom.
The meeting recognized and agreed with the specific provision in the Ham Charter that Ham people will only give their electoral mandate in Ham land to the best and brightest candidates on the basis of character, competence, proven ability, excellence, integrity and honesty regardless of party affiliation, religion or gender.
The meeting noted that for an action or situation to be deemed to be violent or constitute a significant threat to security, it must reach a certain threshold with clear indices; in the case of violence, where destruction, often characterized by shedding of blood, bodily harm, breakages of moveable and immovable items take place, and insecurity, where it is apparent that life and property are at grave risk.
The stakeholders noted that there was absolutely nothing that took place that remotely bore any index of violence or insecurity in Ham land on Saturday, May 12, 2018, adding that it was in this regard that all the efforts made to identify the culprits and peddlers of the allegations that led to the cancellation of the elections were embarrassingly unavailing as no one owned up or took responsibility for passing false and malicious information to Government.
The Ham Stakeholders meeting was summoned by His Royal Highness Kpop Ham, Dr Danladi Gyet Maude, in the Ham (Jaba) Chiefdom in his Palace on Friday, May 25, 2018 following allegations of “widespread actions” that “constituted a security threat”.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the spirit and intent of the Ham Charter, being the outcome of the historic 2017 Ham General Assembly which, among others, underscores the unity, common aspirations, ambitions, beliefs, hopes, values and virtues of all Ham people.
They acknowledged and further reaffirmed that politics is not an end in itself nor is it a zero-sum game where the winner takes all and accordingly, they reaffirmed their pledge to always exercise their political franchise wisely and actively.
They assured that they will not embrace the politics of convenience, deceit, division, exploitation and manipulation in Ham land just as they recognized and agreed with the specific provision in the Ham Charter that Ham people will only give their electoral mandate in Ham land to the best and brightest candidates on the basis of character, competence, proven ability, excellence, integrity and honesty regardless of party affiliation, religion or gender.
