President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was again stoned
on Thursday by some aggrieved youths in Jalingo, Taraba
State.
Jonathan was in the city in continuation of the Peoples
Democratic Party’s presidential rally.
His convoy had before Thursday been stoned in Katsina
and Bauchi states when he went to seek the votes for his
re-election bid.
It was gathered that the windscreens and windows of some
of the vehicles on the convoy were destroyed before
security operatives used tear gas and horsewhips to
disperse the youths.
Those who witnessed the Thursday incident but pleaded
anonymity told newsmen that the incident occurred when
the President’s convoy was going to the palace of the Emir
of Muri, Abass Tafida, from the airport.
One of them said, “Security agents ensured that people
were moved very far from the main but at a point, the
convoy got to a particular village where the youths became
restive.
“Before we knew what was happening, they started stoning
the convoy.”
It however could not be determined as of press time if
anyone in the convoy was hurt or any arrests made.
One of our correspondents learnt that Jonathan, who was
unruffled by the incident, used the opportunity of his visit to
the state to meet with ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.
Suntai has been unable to return to work since he was
involved in a plane crash in October 2012.
It was learnt that Jonathan met with Suntai inside the
Government House, Jalingo.
But while Jonathan was busy campaigning, another set of
angry youths descended on the state PDP secretariat in
Jalingo.
It took the intervention of security agents to save the edifice
from being reduced to rubble by the angry youths who
vandalised 12 vehicles on the premises.
The spokesman for the PDP in the state, Napoleon
Adamu,who lamented the incident, said the youths were
protesting their non-inclusion in the preparation for
Jonathan’s visit.
He expressed anger that despite the Abuja accord signed by
all the presidential candidates , some elements could still go
as far as attacking members of the party.
He said, “We are happy that no life was lost and we want to
appeal to our teeming youths to eschew violence and not to
take the law into their own hands.
“Even before the date the President’s campaign was fixed,
the youths had been complaining that they were not carried
along by the committees constituted for the visit.”
At the state stadium campaign ground, Jonathan said he
would ensure the completion of both the Kashimbila Dam
and the Mambilla Hydro Power projects in the state if re-
elected.
He added that plans were on to establish a presidential
resort at Mambilla to attract top government functionaries
and business moguls to the state.
Jonathan later moved to Yola, Adamawa State, where he
again assured the people that Michika and Madagali Local
government Areas would be recaptured by the military from
Boko Haram.
Jonathan told the crowd that his administration would
provide funds to enable those affected by insurgency to
rebuild their houses and live a meaningful life.
Making inferences about insinuations in certain quarters
that he was going about seeking re-election when Boko
Haram was intensifying its attacks on parts of the North-
East, the President urged the people to disregard such.
“No human being with his right senses, except a mad man,
will encourage the insurgents to attack and kill people for
political purposes while he is going about looking for
votes,” Jonathan said at the Mahmud Ribadu Square venue
of the rally.
“No political leader will compromise his stance and connive
with terrorists under whatever circumstances to declare
war on his country,” he added.
Calling on the electorate to have confidence in the
leadership of the PDP for accelerated development,
Jonathan warned Nigerians against playing politics with
insecurity.
He said that his administration was “disturbed by the
insurgents’ activities” and added that it was mad for
political opponents to claim that he was not doing much to
end the insurgency which, according to him, is a global
phenomenon.
“This type of allegation from politicians who campaign to
garner votes from the electorate amounts to madness.
People should disregard such insinuations because they are
aimed at derailing our democracy,” Jonathan added.
He advised the people to also vote for the PDP
governorship candidate in the state, Nuhu Ribadu, whom, he
said, would use his position to fight Boko Haram.
A PDP topshot and a former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Jibril
Aminu; former acting Governor Umaru Fintiri; and the
Senate President, David Mark, jointly called on the
electorate to vote for Jonathan.
They said the best legacy the President and the government
of PDP could leave behind was a good educational standard
for the people.
The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, after
thanking the people, presented the PDP flag to Ribadu.
He also lifted the suspension of a former National Chairman
of the party, Bamanga Tukur, and the state executive of the
PDP .
A little drama however happened when overzealous security
agents on horseback thrashed some of the party
supporters. This made some of the party loyalists to react
back by hauling chairs at the security operatives. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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