The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Presidential campaign rally

  • Attack on Buhari, Osinbajo treasonable, says Falana

    Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that the stoning of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) during last Monday’s campaign of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in Abeokuta was treasonable.

    Reacting to the ugly incident Wednesday, Falana expressed regret that the Police has not arrested anybody in connection with the attack on the President, his Vice and other leaders of the APC.

    He said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State cannot absolve himself of the blame as the chief security officer of the state.

    He regretted that governor Amosun visited Abuja several times before last Monday’s campaign with the governorship candidate of the APM, Adekunle Akinlade, the President welcomed them to the villa.

    He said the governor ought to have been told long before the campaign that his activities were anti-party.

    The lawyer also blamed the various security agencies in the state for the incident noting that they did nothing to prevent or stop the attack on the President.

    He said the security agencies, despite knowing that it was APC rally allowed another party and its supporters to infiltrate the venue.

    Read Also: 2019: Police will be professional, unbiased – IG

    Falana contended that this ugly situation persisted because Police and other security agencies that should be alive to their responsibilities did nothing about it.

    He recalled that in 2007, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo openly canvassed support for Dr Olusegun Agagu against Dr Segun Mimiko.

    He also recalled that some time ago, supporters of former Oyo state governor, Chief Rasheed Ladoja and Alao Akala clashed and six people died, the Police did not arrest nor prosecute anybody over the incident.

    Falana lamented the spate of disrespect and other acts against the person of the President of the country by the opposition, describing it as an insult against his office.

    He recalled that during presentation of the 2019 budget, when the president was booed by some members of the National Assembly, the only thing he said was that ‘the world is watching’, noting, “here in Abeokuta, he kept quiet and allowed the situation to degenerated”.

    He said when the President was attending rally of the APC, similar incident happened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Imo State in particular where the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha was campaigning for Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) gubernatorial candidate, nobody was cautioned.

  • Pelting Buhari in Ogun sign of rejection, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has described Monday’s pelting of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally, as a sign of rejection.

    According to the main opposition party, the action was a direct response by Nigerians to his four years misrule as depicted in the expansion of poverty, corruption, divisiveness and bloodletting across the country.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said “It’s instructive to note that Mr. President was pelted in Abeokuta barely 24 hours after his Zamfara state rally on Sunday, where he attempted to incite Nigerians to join the APC in their planned resort to violence to derail the 2019 general election, having realised that they stand no chance of winning the election”.

    The PDP said the people of Ogun state, and indeed, the South West, have shown that they are in direct alignment with other states and geo-political zones in rejecting President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose administration the party said, has foisted so much injustice and brought unprecedented pain and anguish to Nigerians.

    Read Also: PDP kicks against alleged clampdown on members

    The statement said, “Mr. President can now see that Nigerians cannot be bought with N10, 000, as he was made to believe by Prof. Osinbajo and members of the cabal in his Presidency.

    “After the unpalatable encounters in all his rallies, Mr. President needs no further signal to show him that the people have completely rejected him, despite his false performance indices. Nigerians are determined to deal him a crushing defeat on February 16 by voting enmasse for the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of our country.

    “The PDP therefore urges President Buhari and the APC to read the handwriting on the wall and get ready to accept his inevitable defeat so that Nigerians can have a breath of fresh air under the leadership of Atiku Abubakar, whose campaign has continued to receive rousing reception in all parts of the country”.

  • Atiku campaigns in Katsina, promises jobs, security

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubabar, has promised the people of Katsina State job creation and security of lives and property if elected President.

    Sparking at the party’s presidential campaign rally on Thursday, Atiku said he would not lie to the people the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) did during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    He said, “Now let me promise you all, everyone knows any promise I make, I fulfill them. My first promise is that I will return peace to Katisna by God’s grace. Secondly, our youths that are jobless, by God’s grace, they will get jobs. Once we create jobs, is that not the end of hunger?

    “Let me remind you all; be careful with the APC. Since about three and half years, they came to lie to you all. They said they will create wealth and improve the economy. Have they created wealth? Is the economy better now? They said they will solve the security challenges, have solved insecurity?”.

    Atiku urged the youth population to actively participate in the upcoming elections, saying he and others in the PDP were there to mentor them.

    “What I want to tell you all is that, this election is for the youths. As for us, we will only show you the way, we are done with ours. Once you vote, be patient for them to count and announce the results. Don’t let them cheat you, the vote is yours not for anyone else”.

    The PDP candidate restated his admonishment to the military, police and other security agencies to ensure peace during the polls and not to allow themselves to be used to manipulate election results.

    Read Also; Kano ready for Atiku, says PDP chair

    The national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who also addressed the rally, urged to people to vote for PDP in order to chase joblessness, insecurity and hunger away from the land.

    According to him, Atiku remained the only candidate that has the capacity and competence to get the country working again, adding that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the country.

    Secondus said, “You know the APC government, they are confused. They are worried and they are adopting all sorts of measures to make sure that they rig this election. But you know APC, their plan is to destabilise this nation.

    “Their plan is to kill and to harm. This was the statement that came out from Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, that there will be body bags.

    “But let me remind him and other leaders of the APC that in 2015, the same el-Rufai and other leaders of APC travelled several times to the United States, to United Kingdom and brought in consultants and international observers that came and witnessed that election”.

    The party chair described Atiku as a symbol of unity and urged the people to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.

    He called on them to vote and to also defend their votes, to ensure that they are not shortchanged by compromised officials and security personnel.

  • Breaking: Five killed, Gov’s convoy attacked at Buhari’s rally

    Five persons were on Thursday feared killed and many injured in Taraba during President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in the northeastern state.

    Two were said to be in critical state.

    Governor Ishaku’s convoy was also attacked on its way out of the Danbaba Suntai Airport where he, his deputy Haruna Manu and other officials of the government went to see off the president at the end of his rally.

    All of the governor’s posters and billboards and those of Atiku Abubakar in the State capital, Jalingo, were mutilated.

    Bala Dan Abu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Darius Ishaku, who confirmed the incident, condemned the “unfortunate bloodletting” and faulted security agents of negligence of duty.

    Abu, who briefed reporters in Government House said: “The deputy governor’s car and several other cars in the convoy, including that of the commissioner of police and a special Adviser to the governor, were damaged.

    “The thugs, most of whom were imported from neighbouring states to create the false impression that APC enjoys a large following in the state, came heavily armed.

    Read Also: Photos from Buhari’s campaign in Taraba, Nasarawa

    “They carried guns, cutlasses and sticks, which they displayed openly and in the full glare of security agents who merely looked the other way,” Abu said.

    The governor’s media chief also accused the “APC thugs” of going round Jalingo metropolis and destroying PDP posters and billboards.

    “They were given cover by the security agencies who fired gunshots to scare away those who may dare to confront them.

    “What happened today is a big contrast to the PDP presidential flag-off of February 5 in Jalingo, which attracted a large crowd but recorded no incidence of crisis and deaths.

    “Residents of Wukari are still leaking the wounds of the APC violent visitation of January 29, during which PDP posters and bill boards were torn and a member of the PDP killed.

    “The Taraba State government will no longer fold its arms while innocent people are being killed and maimed,” Abu said.

  • I won’t back down on anti-graft war, Buhari vows

    President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to intensify the ongoing anti-corruption, saying he will not back down despite criticisms from looters.

    Speaking before a mammoth crowd at the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential rally in Makurdi, Benue state capital, Buhari said he will expose corrupt elites, recover more money and build roads, railway and power stations to boost the economy.

    He scored himself high on delivering his electioneering promise of fighting corruption, providing security and improving the economy.

    On economy, he said he has made fertilisers available to farmers and stopped importation of food thereby providing food security to farmers and Nigerians.

    He assured Benue residents on provision of security for peaceful elections and solicited their votes for next week’s presidential election.

    APC Leader in the north central and Senator representing Benue North west senatorial zone, George Akume, described Buhari as a selfless leader refused to enrich himself despite Minister of petroleum and Head of State.

    Read Also:  I won’t change if reelected, Buhari assures

    Despite his access to wealth, he told the crowd that Buhari has lived a modest life with a simple house in Kaduna town.

    Akume argued Buhari has managed the economy very well with landmark projects in rail and Power and Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    The former Benue governor said Benue people have no problem with the Fulanis as they have lived with them peacefully.

    He alleged the State government has armed Livestock Guards who go about killing innocent people and blaming it on Fulanis.

    Akume assured Buhari Benue people love him and will reward him with at least 70 percent votes, leaving Atiku Abubakar with “miserable 30 percent votes.”

    Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong urged Benue people to vote APC governorship candidate Emmanuel Jime, who he said is capable of providing leadership and tackling security challenges as he had done in Plateau.

    Lalong stated when governors cannot provide projects and pay salaries, they hide under crises to blame others for their failure.

  • Breaking: I won’t change if reelected, Buhari assures

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured Nigerians that he will not change his style when given a second term in office.

    There have been insinuations the President will change and stop working for the masses if reelected.

    But Buhari gave his assurance not to change during the Presidential campaign at the Aper Aku stadium in Makurdi, Benue State

    Read Also: Buhari arrives Makurdi for campaign rally

    The President promised that he would continue to remain steadfast and focused.

    He also listed his administration’s achievements in the past three and half years.

    Details Later…