Ex-Governor Goje In Trouble Over Political Violence In Gombe, May Be Quizzed By Police

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Thursday, January 15th, 2015

There are strong indications that former Governor of Gombe state, Mr. Danjuma Goje, may be called for questioning by the security agencies over his role in the latest wave of political violence in the state.

former Governor of Gombe state, Mr. Danjuma Goje

Goje, is being fingered in the political violence in the state, the latest being the weekend attack in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat was razed down by thugs allegedly loyal to him.

Earlier in December last year, some loyalists of Goje were arrested over attack on the convoy of Governor Hassan Dankwambo, when he visited the federal University in Kashere.

The governor had visited the University located in Kashere town, which is the hometown of Goje, on the invitation of the Vice Chancellor.

Following the attack, the state government accused Goje of sending political thugs, known as “Kalare Boys” to assassinate the governor.

Rather than condemn the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Goje’s new party, accused Dankwambo of clamping down on APC members in the state.

News Investigators gathered that the APC, Goje’s party, is making frantic effort to starve off the arrest of its leader in the state and has vowed to mobilise public opinion against the move.

An official of the state government, who pleaded anonymity because, he has not been cleared to speak, said: “Goje is already jittery because there are evidences now that he instigated the violence.

“He is doing everything to sway attention from his atrocities. He has even boasted that he has the media in his pocket.

“The problem is that he is simply intolerant, how can you defect to APC and still want to be controlling PDP? He is not only going to be shamed when his APC is defeated in Gombe, he himself will lose the senate seat Isha Allah,” the official said.

“We have a governor that has done so well, revamped the agriculture sector, transform the education sector, health sector and built roads across the length and breath of the state. The people are happy with him, and you will see that when he is reelected next month.

“If on god-father so-called is not happy with the development that is directly impacting on the people of the state, there is we can do about that,” he added.

Efforts to get the former governor’s comment proved abortive as his special assistant Mr. Adamu did not pick his calls when contacted.

Goje, a serving Senator, was elected governor of Gombe between 1999-2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in October 2013.

The official also accused Goje of employing media propaganda as a means to escape answering for his violent acts against the state.

Meanwhile, the police command in Gombe said there was no such plan to arrest Goje as speculated in the media.

Spokesperson of the Police in Gombe state, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, said he was not aware of any plans to arrest Mr. Goje.

“I am not aware of any such plans, the police do not initiate things like that,” he said.