Mammoth Crowd Brings Maiduguri To A Standstill As Buhari Campaign Visits
… Irate Youths Torch Modu Sherrif's Campaign Office
SAN FRANCISCO, February 16, (THEWILL) –It was a glorious entry for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Maiduguri, Monday, as a mammoth crowd welcomed his campaign train to the Borno State capital.
The rousing welcome given to the APC Presidential candidate was facilitated by the state government which declared Monday a work-free day to enable residents of the state to come out and show their love for the former military head of state who is considered as an idol in the state.
But the mammoth crowd became uncontrollable as the town was virtually brought to a halt with access to the Ramat square ground venue of the rally becoming hectic even before the arrival of Buhari.
The military and security personnel had to drive many people back from the venue of the rally with teargas and sporadic gunshots into the air to disperse the crowd. The action however resulted in a stampede during which many were injured.
On arrival at the airport at about 10am, the Campaign Train could not get to the palace of the Shehu of Borno, a distance of about 5 kilometers until 11:10 am as the major roads were blocked by enthusiastic supporters seeking to catch a glance of the former head of state.
When he finally made it to the Shehu's palace, Buhari said: “I was here in 1975 as governor of the defunct North-east states, I'm happy that I received a befitting welcome. If elected I will focus on tackling the persistent insecurity affecting North-east, it is not easy as the damage has been done.
“Your royal highness, God willing, if APC government is elected, all towns under Boko Haram control will be liberated and rebuilt. It was unfortunate that commercial activities were paralysed following the insecurity, in the past, hundreds of trailers loaded with goods took off from Maiduguri to various neighbouring countries, but presently the reverse is the situation.”
According to Buhari, “Boko Haram ideology contradicts Islamic principles because Islam does not allow senseless killings of innocent souls. It is unfortunate that innocent persons were being killed in mosques, churches and their houses, God willing, if APC government is elected, we will restore the confidence in governance.”
Responding , the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi , advised that if elected, Buhari should focus on restoration of peace, massive investment, re-construction of federal roads, revamping of Lake Chad and ensure the success of oil exploration in the Lake Chad region.
Moving from the palace to the venue of the rally for the campaign team was another hectic assignment as it took about 20 minutes for it was difficult to move through the sea of the crowd.
With shouts of Sai Buhari, Sai Baba , the speeches at the rally were silenced by the rowdy and uncontrollable crowd. And when Buhari finally mounted the podium, the crowd surged forward to touch him and dismantled the steel barrier.
They also vandalised everything in sight including the television installation for the live coverage of the campaign which forced the transmission off the air.
When the crowd could no longer be assuaged, the security operatives assigned to the venue had to whisk Buhari away for his safety.
Present at the rally were the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former PDP National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe; Senator Lawal Sha'aibu, Umar Farouk Aliyu, Senator Hadi Sirika, APC Secretary, Mai Mala Bunu, and former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Lawan Dambazau (rtd).
Some irate youths however unleashed terror on the campaign office of the senatorial candidate of PDP Borno Central, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the office was torched .