There was palpable enthusiasm and excitement in Daura, hometown of Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other parts of Katsina State yesterday. While many in Katsina, the state capital, were busy carrying on with their legitimate activities without any molestation, some residents gathered in groups dancing and jubilating over what some of them described as “impending victory” of Buhari in today’s general election.
One hotel worker around Yahaya Madaki Way (off CBN) in Katsina, who begged not to be named, said he is confident that voters in the state will troop out en masse to show their love for Buhari, adding that this will help in “assuaging the battered feelings of people over the loss of political power” arising from the death of Umar Yar’Adua, an indigene of the state, after a protracted terminal illness in 2010.
According to Sheu, a businessman who came to withdraw money through ATM at the Diamond Bank beside the Goodluck Jonathan campaign headquarters on IBB Way, the state will never turn its back against one of its best. “We have always demonstrated our unflinching support for Buhari and nothing has changed. He is our own hero. If he contests ten times, we are ready for him,” he enthused. And right beside him at the same bank was Hajia Ummi, who cut in that this reporter should be not be asking who Katsina people will vote for – hinting that the former head of state, not any other candidate, will get the votes of the state.
Apart from the excitement swirling in the air in the state capital, it was a spectacle to behold as many residents took to the dancing floor in all the communities along the well-paved road leading to Daura, gyrating to the local music wafting from numerous loud speakers they mounted by the road sides. The general’s hometown is about one hour drive from the state capital.
Sabo, a commercial driver who took this reporter round Buhari’s place of birth yesterday, said many communities have been agog for more than seven days after realizing that elections will no longer be shifted again. Emphasizing that “tomorrow (today) is a day we have all been waiting for,” the driver said the news of the last postponement saddened the residents but they remained undaunted. One of the revelers in Daura, who simply identified himself as Abu, declared that “Buhari is our next president, Insha Allah. We cannot wait.” Many around him chorused the same line, saying they are tired of bad governance foisted on the nation President Jonathan, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And when reminded that election has not held yet, they retorted: “We know, but we are winning, insha Allah.”
By the time this reporter left the former head of state’s residence at about 5pm yesterday, Buhari was yet to return to his hometown. According to one of the plain-clothed security men attached to his house, the APC presidential hopeful would arrive anytime later in the day. Friends and associates of the retired general thronged his residence awaiting his arrival, even children milled around the gate of the modest house.
Although there were sprinkles of security agents – soldiers or anti-riot policemen – in some places in the state capital, their presence was not heavy enough to intimidate residents. They were also not conducting any search as such, as many of there were seen seated under any available trees not too far from the mounted road blocks. Unlike in other states like Niger and Kaduna where there were numerous checkpoints manned by stern-looking soldiers, there were no traffic snarls anywhere as everybody was in high spirits ahead of today’s polls. All over the state, campaign posters and billboards of the APC candidates – ranging from presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial and other seats – flood the streets. If elections are won and lost due to campaign souvenirs alone, it may be a good guess to say today belongs to the APC candidates. Unlike candidates on the platform of the PDP who seemed to avoid the popular practice of pairing their campaign posters with the pictures of their presidential candidate, pictures of APC candidates in the state were seen side-by-side with Buhari’s in all the major streets in the various communities visited. Instead, pictures of PDP candidates were paired with that of the outgoing Governor Shema.
