The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State has won all the 27 chairmanship and 312 councillor positions in Saturday’s council polls in the state.
This is even as the newly elected chairmen and councillors of Konduga, Jere and other local government areas have lauded what they described as the “open-door, grassroots politics” of the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Dalori.
Dalori was the immediate past Chairman of the APC in the state and Forum Chairman of APC Chairmen in the country.
Declaring the overall results of the elections on Sunday in Maiduguri, the state capital, the Executive Chairman of the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC), Alhaji Lawan Maina said:“Following the conduct of the election on Saturday, we have received results from the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and as empowered by the law under Section 10.
“In my position as the Chief Returning Officer of the state, I read out the results as follows : The ruling party, APC won all the 27 Local Government Chairmen in the state.
“Equally, the ruling party has won all the 312 council members (councillors) in all the wards of the state.
“With this, we have come to the end of this exercise and the certificate presentation to the winners will be made at a later date to be announced soon”, Maina said.
On Sunday, newly elected chairmen and councillors, and other stakeholders paid a ‘Thank-You’ visit to Dalori at his Damboa Road residence in Maiduguri. They said they were grateful for his support and intense mobilisation for the party.
In a statement in Maiduguri, Dalori’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Yemi Akinbode, quoted the delegation as saying: “We the newly elected chairmen, councillors and party supporters have come to express our profound gratitude to our leader and mentor, Hon. Ali Dalori for his exemplary leadership and excellent service to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“You have demonstrated to politicians in Borno State that power belongs to the people. This you have shown over the decades in your belief in open-door, grassroots and people-focused politics which has now become your legacy in Borno State politics.
“We have followed with keen interest your political trajectory which espouse a deep connection and affinity to the people. Rather than distancing yourself from the comman man, you have made the people the fulcrum of your political practice. Right from your days in the Social Democratic Party, United Nigeria Congress Party, and through your political journey, you have remained resolute and consistent in making the grassroots the priority of your politics.
“Today, it is evident that with your support and commitment to open-door political principle, you have been able to help build a formidable APC in Borno State.
“As we steps into the new horizon we shall continue to safeguard and promote same principle for the full integration and sustenance of the principles of democracy and good governance in the state”.
On behalf of the elected chairmen and councillors, the newly elected chairman of Konduga Local Government Council, Hon. Abba Abari extolled Dalori’s leadership qualities.
According to him, Dalori has shown clearly that, as a politician, what you need is the people. He further said:”The people is our market. So, if you want to be successful in politics, focus on how to build your politics on the interest of the common man.
“Dalori is our leader and mentor in the game of politics. He has taught us what we need to do to become good politicians. His teachings and mentoring is what we have all adopted, we would continue to foster and promote your legacy of open-door politics. Since we joined his school of politics, we have learnt that power belongs to the people and as such, we will always strive to put the interest of the people first at all time.
“He has taught us to know that the people is our market, such that for us to be relevant, we must continue to make products that will excite our customers and satisfy their needs”.
The newly elected chairperson of Jere Local Government Council, Hajia Inna Galadima, the only elected female executive chairperson, said: “I have come to thank our leader Hon. Dalori for his support towards our elections as chairperson, As a matter of fact, the DNC procure nomination forms for some of the councillors in Borno State.
“I know the huge role you played in my nomination and eventual emergence as the chairperson of Jere Local Government. I wish to pledge my loyalty and support for your leadership at all time”.
Hajia Galadima was a two-time Commissioner in Borno State.
Dalori thanked the group for the honour done to him by the new chairmen and councillors.
He charged them to be more dedicated to the interest and needs of the people.
He said: “Any politician that want to sustain his or herself in power must take the welfare of the common man as a priority. We often forget that power belongs to Allah. If we serve the people with utmost dedication, Allah will not forsake us. So when we serve the interest of the people, we are serving Allah. I want to plead with you all to continue to reflect on the teaching of Allah, that we must endeavour to help the poor and the needy.
“To become a political powerhouse, you must first be an advocate of the oppressed and down-trodden. I want you to make the welfare and interest of the people the bedrock of your politics”, Dalori counselled.
