Angry and disgruntled youth backed by constituency executives have vowed to shut down the Savelugu Municipal Assembly office Thursday morning despite the presence of armed soldiers who escorted and inducted the Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia Aishetu Seidu into office.
It was her first time in office two months after her overwhelmed endorsement. She was blocked by the youth from gaining access after they intensified protest for a replacement.
Hajia Aishatu Seidu officially took over from the municipal coordinating director on Wednesday, June 14 in a short ceremony under heightened security.
The regional Security Council on Wednesday, in a show of force sanctioned the deployment of dozen of riot gear wearing soldiers to force the MCE into her office to fully assume duty as head of the municipal assembly.
The action of the council followed a third demonstration staged by the youth against the MCE after two initial protests failed to intimidate assembly members to reject her.
However, the move has enraged the protesters who have resolved to besiege and lock up the office despite the presence of the combative military force.
Speaking exclusively to Starr News, leader of the youth, Zakaria Karim said after the late night meeting that it has been agreed to drive out all workers from the facility at 8am Thursday morning and close it down until the president heed to their request.
He said they were reacting to the military ‘provocation’ and to prove again that the youth of Savelugu cannot be intimidated anyone.
“We are going to react to it tomorrow. We are locking up the district assembly”, the youth leader revealed and when asked how such defiance was to be carried through in the presence of the soldiers, he answered: “when we get to the bridge we shall cross”.
The threat by the youth has raised security concerns as many envisage possible clashes with the soldiers.
Political tensions have escalated since in the municipality since the appointment of Hajia Aishatu.
The youth have roundly rejected her and held series of rampaging protests despite an unprecedented approval by the assembly members.
Some angry constituency executives have publicly threatened to sabotage the party in next elections if the president fails to give them a replacement.
They want a native and a party loyalist appointed to occupy the position and that Hajia has never contributed in any way towards the progress of the party in the constituency.
