BY MUSDAPHA ILO

The Police in Borno State on Wednesday banned the hoisting of flags by political parties in public places.

The Borno State command of the police said in a press statement signed by the its public relations officer, Gideon Jibrin, the hoisting of political parties flags of the streets and other public places remain will no longer be allowed anywhere in the state.

He said that political parties should restrict the hoisting of their flags to their secretariats only. Jubrin, who asked all political parties to remove any flags hoisted on the streets and other public places forthwith, said that major roads have been defaced by the indiscriminate use of flags in Maiduguri, the state capital and other cities.

“Whoever is found defacing the environment will be arrested for possible prosecution,” the police warned. “This is an era for political parties to demonstrate their popularity and sell their candidates to the citizenry in the state. But this should be done with decorum, decency and maturity,” Jubrin stated.

The police spokesman reasoned that political party flags are a symbol of their identity and therefore should be used only at their offices and not in public buildings or streets.

“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,” he argued.

“Henceforth, hoisting of parties’ flags everywhere in the state will no longer be 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,” the police spokesman warned.