Security personnel comprising soldiers and anti-riot policemen Thursday averted what was potentially an ugly situation as hundreds of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), mostly youths, pelted stones and pure water sachets at the motorcade of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bauchi.
NewsWireNGR recalls that Security forces, on Tuesday, averted what was potentially an ugly situation, as hundreds of supporters chanting ‘sai Buhari’ attacked the motorcade of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina.
A combined unit of soldiers and anti-riot policemen dispersed the supporters as they surged forward with the intent to attack the president and his delegation, as they visited the house of Hajia Dada, mother of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in her residence at Yar’Adua Quarters, Katsina.
There was palpable tension as the president’s convoy heading to the Bauchi Emir’s palace drove past the Nasarawa area road where some supporters of General Buhari brandishing brooms, the APC’s symbol, welcomed the president with chants of “sai Buhari” even as some could be heard calling President Jonathan “arna,” (in Hausa meaning an unbeliever).
With the president in the motorcade were Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, ministers, other top chieftains of the PDP leadership, among others.
Also, along Ran road, some irate youths in their numbers chanting “Sai Buhari” disrupted business activities as shop owners in the area had to hurriedly lock their business premises for fear of being attacked.
At venue of the colourful occasion held at Ibrahim Babangida’s Square, Bauchi, the youths who had, before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage, chanted solidarity songs for the President and the PDP, as they marched round the venue with their drums and placards with the President’s picture, turned wild and began pelting dignitaries at the stand.
Security operatives had a tough time dispersing the political thugs who came out in their numbers. The youths destroyed some of the canopies erected and plastic chairs.
President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the opposition party of instigating the electorate in the country against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.
He challenged the party to state its achievements rather than looking for cheap popularity.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters at the flagg-off of the PDP presidential campaign rally held at Ibrahim Babangida Square, Bauchi, President Jonathan vowed that no retrogressive forces could push the party behind in its effort to develop Northern Nigeria.
