Most politicians have fled their party offices in Borno State following a threat by members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to attack all political party offices from national to states levels in the country.
Majority of the party offices in the state capital, Maiduguri, were deserted on Friday.
Correspondent, who went round the offices, noted that the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) secretariat along Polo Road and former Governor Sheriff Campaign Office along Kumshe, which had always been a beehive of activities, had been deserted.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Wulari and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) office at Kofa Biyu where party supporters always converged on, witnessed an unusual calm except for the few old women selling groundnuts.
Some of them declined comments when our correspondent visited the place, while one lady simply said that, “You know why there are no people, because you are a journalist. What do you want us to tell you again? Everybody is aware of the reason. So, there is nothing to say.”
A stalwart of ANPP in Maiduguri, who did not want his name in print, said that “You are in this state, you know that no political activity is going on. Therefore, it is usual that you cannot find anybody in the party offices now. When there is a political activity going on in the state, politicians and party supporters would have to be in the party offices, what you observed is not as a result of the threat, but a normal trend in political life circle.”
But asked on whether the threat by Boko Haram meant anything to them, he said, “Let me tell you the truth, these our brothers, never mince words. So, if for anything, to comply is the beginning of wisdom, because nobody can tell anybody that is living in Borno State today what these people are capable of doing. We live in fear everyday because of their activities,“ he claimed.
It will be recalled that during a phone interview with journalists in Maiduguri, the spokesman of the sect, Abu Qaqa, said that whoever tried to stand on their way would surely die.
He also said that the sect had on their death list: President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark and former Information and Communications Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, amongst others.
Meanwhile, our correspondent also observed that some buildings in Bullumkuttu, Dala Alemderi, Kumshe, Gwange within the Maiduguri metropolis, which carried political party colours are beginning to wear a new look, as their owners had ordered re-painting of the properties in compliance with the warning by the sect on Thursday.
Many houses, where party flags were seen before the warning had gone down at half-mast or completely removed from poles.
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