A youth leader in Zaria, Alhaji Halliru Adamu Aliyu, popularly known as Wali, has reportedly been arrested after leading a protest to the family residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, and accusing him of remembering his supporters only with T-shirts and posters during campaigns while neglecting them in federal job opportunities.
Wali was reportedly arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State.
According to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, Wali led several young people to the Speaker’s family home to demand inclusion in federal employment and other opportunities they claim were facilitated by Abbas.
The protesters said they had supported the Speaker faithfully over the years but were abandoned after he attained political power.
In a video obtained by Zagazola, Wali voiced his frustration over what he described as continued neglect of the Speaker’s loyal supporters.
“We are the ones they always remember with T-shirts and posters when it is time for campaigns and elections. Since the beginning of the political career of Speaker Abbas, we have been with him. We did what he wanted us to do, we followed all instructions but now when there are appointments, none of us is a beneficiary,” he said, insisting that despite their years of loyalty, the Speaker has failed to reward them.
He alleged that several federal job slots were shared recently, including within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna State Polytechnic (KADPOLY), and the Nigeria Police, but none of them benefited.
“We heard 40 appointments were given in EFCC, and another 30 in Kaduna State Polytechnic, and in police too and none of us got appointments,” he lamented, accusing the Speaker of deliberately excluding his home supporters.
Wali further argued that some of them are qualified to benefit from the slots.
“We are the Speakers’ followers and his ‘sons’ but he only remembers us with T-shirts and posters. We are not illiterates. There are people who have degrees, NCE certificates, diplomas and O’level results among us,” he said.
He concluded by saying the situation had become unbearable.
“We heard all the appointments are facilitated by the Speaker. We have come to the end of it, we can no longer endure,” he declared, calling for fairness in the distribution of federal opportunities.
Zagazola reported that security operatives later arrived at the protest scene and arrested Wali.
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