By Ndahi Marama

MAIDUGURI— THE Borno State Police Command yesterday banned indiscriminate hoisting of political parties’ flags at public places other than parties’ offices and secretariats in the state.

The indiscriminate hoisting of parties flags, according to the police, had seriously “defaced” all the roads and streets of Maiduguri metropolis, the state capital.
Announcing the ban in Maiduguri, the Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Jibrin, in statement warned affected political parties to remove such flags from the roads and streets immediately.

While condemning the indiscriminate hoisting of flags, the statement said: “This manner of politicking is not a good dimension to emulate. It is good to introduce certain measures that can make our democracy work and not to litter everywhere with flags of political parties.
“This is an era for political parties to demonstrate their popularity and sale candidates to the citizenry in the state. But this should not be done with decorum, decency and maturity.

“It is pertinent to note that flag is not the same with posters. It is a symbol of a political party like the Nigerian green white green flag hoisted in government offices/establishment. Politicians should, therefore, hoist their flags only in their offices and secretariats.

“Henceforth, hoisting of parties’ flags everywhere in the state will no longer tolerated. Politicians who are in this habit should desist from it and also warn their party members to remove such flags from the roads/streets within the metropolis; and whoever is found defacing the environment will be arrested for possible prosecution.”