The people of Adamawa State have expressed concern over the lingering political face-off between the state executive and the legislature. A cross section of the people, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Hong, Mubi North and Mubi South local government areas, said they were not happy that the crisis was yet to abate.

They said with the intervention of the PDP national secretariat, they expected the parties to shield their swords and cooperate for the development of the state. Alhaji Musa Kareka, who resides in

Madagali local government, said the crisis was a threat to the peace and development of the state.

''I am worried that it has degenerated to physical combats between supporters of the executive and those of the legislature.

"What the people of Adamawa have to do now is to pray and fast for Allah to forestall any threat to the peace and progress of the state," Kareka said. Also sharing the same idea, Alhaji Abdulrahman Kwacham of Mubi North local government, said prayers were required for a lasting solution to the

crisis.

He said that such political problems had been the bane of development in the state since the inception of democracy in 1999. Alhaji Mohammadu Inuwa of Mubi South local government, urged the gladiators to put sentiments aside and embrace dialogue so that the state could forge ahead.

Mrs Asabe Buba of Hong local government called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to intervene and broker peace between the two feuding groups.

Alhaji Iliya Maizane of Mubi North said he would prefer a situation where the matter would be settled through the courts. "Let the rule of law take its full course so that this matter can be settled for

good," he stated.

A staff of Michika local government, who preferred anonymity, blamed the face-off for the delay in the payment of council workers salary for June. "We are yet to get our June salary because of this problem caused by a disagreement between the governor and the lawmakers over the conduct of PDP primaries to pick candidates for the local government election. "This is sad. They can continue with their fight but let them pay us (local government staff) our salary; they must stop playing politics with our salary", he said.

He called for the quick conduct of local government polls "so that we can have elected councils with autonomy to attend to the development needs at the grassroots." (NAN)