The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Presidential rally

  • Thousands troop out in Katsina for Buhari’s campaign

    Thousands of APC supporters have taken over Katsina, the Katsina State capital, awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari for his campaign rally in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the supporters who arrived the city on Wednesday slept on the streets in spite of the cold weather.

    There are reports that the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, venue of the rally, was already filled to capacity.

    Already vehicle owners have to park five to ten kilometres away to trek to the campaign ground due to congestion as a result of massive human and vehicular movement.

    Buhari is expected to wind up his campaign this Thursday in Katsina from where he will proceed to Daura to cast his vote in the presidential election on Saturday in which he is a candidate.

    There are also reports of massive hold up on roads leading to the state capital through Jibia, Batsari, Kaita, Daura, Mani, Dutsinma and Kankia, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters come in from across the 34 local government areas in the state.

    So far, there has been no report of any security breach, as police, military and para military personnel keep vigil in strategic locations.

    NAN observed that traders were making brisk business, even as hundreds of APC supporters move round the city chanting praises of the president.

  • Violence mars Ogun APC rally

    Political thugs on Monday disrupted the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.

    The thugs believed to have sympathies for a party went around the stadium chasing away supporters of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dapo Abiodun.

    Many of them were injured in the process with those adorning the yellow attire of Abiodun specifically targeted.

    The thugs were armed with dangerous weapons, forcing Abiodun’s supporters to run for safety.

    Many of them removed materials bearing the name of Abiodun to avoid further attacks.

    Read Also: Tension in Ogun as thugs disrupt Presidential rally

    When the campaign finally started with President Muhammadu Buhari on seat, the thugs prevented National Chairman of the Comrade Adam Oshiomhole from addressing the crowd.

    Oshiomhole had hardly spoken for a minute before they started throwing stones at the stage, forcing officials to appeal to him to stop.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun took the microphone appealing to the violent supporters to calm down before Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took over.

    Osinbajo, an indigene of the state, appealed for support, promising the Buhari-led administration will uplift the people.

  • Tension in Ogun as thugs disrupt Presidential rally

    Sacks Abiodun’s Supporters from Stadium

    Scores of hoodlums chanting the slogan of a rival opposition governorship candidate on Monday disrupted the Presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and sacked supporters of the Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of APC, from the main bowl of the MKO stadium, Abeokuta

    Other APC members and supporters seated awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari for planned rally, were also chased away as the thugs hurled stones, shoes and other dangerous weapons at them.

    Many were injured in the attacks, forcing thousands of people to leave the stadium while the President is yet to arrive.

    In less than 10 minutes, all the seats and positions occupied by Dapo Abiodun supporters and other APC members were deserted as stones and objects hurled by the hoodlums, fell on them in torrents.

    Read Also: Abiodun: I will bring new lease of life to Ogun

    Some of the hoodlums were overheard brazenly boasting “this is Ogun and nobody can intimidate us” while throwing stones at the fleeing APC members and supporters of Abiodun.

    Not even the announcement of the arrival of the wife of the Vice – President, Dolapo Osinbajo, at the time could elicit respite to the reign of terror unleashed on people.

    Outside the stadium, dozens of armed soldiers and other security agencies battled to prevent the entry of another batch of hoodlums who were allegedly hurried to the venue to reinforce their colleagues who had seized the main bowl of the main stadium.

    Many were appalled that a Fuji musician called to entertain at the occasion, prodded the hoodlums on with inciting lyrics even as those who ought to ensure orderliness at the venue acted as though they were on holiday.

    There was palpable concern over the safety of the APC chieftains such as Senator Gbenga Kaka, Abiodun’s running mate, Noimot Oyedele – Salako, Chief Tolu Odebiyi and others, with many wondering if they were able to leave the stadium unscathed.

  • APC raises alarm over Amosun move to outsmarts Abiodun during Buhari’s visit

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state is alleged to have perfected a game of subterfuge and intrigues ahead of tomorrow’s All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential rally, not only to conceal his steady support for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to President Muhammadu Buhari, but also to take the shine off Prince Adedapo Abiodun, the APC governorship candidate in the state during the rally.

    Buses, hitherto, branded with APM emblem, logo and images of governorship candidate and Deputy, and being used for campaign tours since, were hurriedly brought into the Presidential lodge, GRA, Abeokuta, for rebranding to conform with the APC looks, it was learnt, ostensibly to ferry members of APM from across the the state  to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, venue of the planned presidential rally on Monday.
    It was also learnt that Amosun had perfected arrangement to pass members of APM off as that of APC and its supporters by dressing in the same attires the governorship candidate of the party, Abiodun and his supporters, had planned to adorn for the rally.
    The essence, it was alleged, is to enable APM members have unfettered and undetected access to the stadium, where they would be expected to do the biddings of the Governor who, it was alleged further, is bent on clandestinely undermine the chances of Abiodun to pave way for his preferred candidate, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, of the APM to emerge victorious come March 2.
    And in the last one week, campaign materials of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) – its various billboards, flexes and signposts bearing the pictures of the governorship candidate Akinladeand running mate were taken down and removed to pave way for replacement with those of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Amosun or the President and Vice, Yemi Osinbajo.
    The development is evidential along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway and some places in Oke – Ilewo area of the state capital where APM billboards, lampposts and other campaign materials hoisted along the way had disappeared and been replaced with that of APC.
     It is being said that Amosun might have given instruction for the removal of the APM billboards and campaign materials, especially in routes likely to be passed by the President and his entourage, as an indication that he is withdrawing support for Akinlade and APM on alleged order of the President but sources close to the APM camp said it was a smokescreen.
    The source added that Amosun is solidly behind Akinlade and APM.
    The governor has consistently  vowed never to support any governorship candidate other than the APM flag bearer, his preferred  gubernatorial candidate, Akinlade, who lost the APC ticket to Prince Dapo Abiodun in separate primaries.
    The Nation, however, gathered that the Ogun APC, its supporters and candidates for the elections were also ready and determined to scuttle any alleged anti – APC, Anti – Abiodun moves of the Governor and his collaborators.
    Already, the has raised an alarm, alleging  that Governor Amosun was sponsoring APM members to cause violence in Ogun during and after the presidential rally.
    In a statement on Sunday by Tunde Oladunjoye, the Publicity Secretary, Ogun APC Caretaker Committee, he stated that the planned violence  is meant  to embarrass the President and attack APC members at the rally.
    Oladunjoye stated further that the plot  have actually been on in the last one month, and is only being perfected with the planned rally, stressing that the Governor is mobilizing people who had received instruction  to boo the President when he hands over the party  flag to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    He stated: “It has become necessary to alert the general public, especially the security agencies, that the members of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), being sponsored by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are planning to disrupt and cause mayhem and bloodshed at the Presidential Rally slated for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, tomorrow, Monday.
    “Intelligence reports at our disposal reveal that leaders of the surrogate party have been circulating messages to their members to attend the APC Presidential Rally in specific uniforms and campaign materials, in such a way that they will be identified and saved from attacks that will be unleashed on APC members as soon as the flag is presented to the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    “The plan to embarrass the President and attack our members at the rally  have actually been on for about a month, and it is only being perfected now. Governor Amosun is mobilizing people who have been instructed to boo the President when he hands over the flag to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    “To prepare grounds for this machination, some hoodlums were empowered to paint some of the  signages of APM with black paints with the evil intention of ascribing the act to APC members. This was the same thing Amosun did in 2003 and heaped the blame on Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
    “Violent uproars will also be sponsored in some local government councils and development areas with a plan to suspend their Chairmen who have been tagged as loyalists of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    Nine of these Chairmen have been removed from the Whatsapp  group of the Ogun State Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), while some of them already had their salaries and allowances put on hold. In fact, their suspension have been held back because of the visit of Mr. President.
    ” While the APC welcomes all supporters and members of the public to the rally, we want to reiterate that the rally is APC Rally. We shall also hold the security agencies to their publicly expressed promise to deal with anyone who attempts to cause disorder before, during and after the rally.”

  • No more road closure for Buhari’s mega rally, says Lagos

    Lagos State Government has reversed itself over the closure of 18 routes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally to canvass votes for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

    The rally holds at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere with the state initially declaring some roads will be closed to ensure easy passage for Buhari and his entourage.

    But the government said there would be no more road closure, urging Lagosians to go about their normal businesses on Saturday during the rally.

    It, however, declared residents should expect an increased presence of traffic personnel at Surulere and adjoining streets because of the mega rally.

    Many Lagosians have expressed apprehensions the proposed closures would lead to a complete lockdown of the nation’s commercial nerve.

    Commissioner for Transportation Ladi Lawanson gave the clarification in chat with reporters at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa on Friday.

    Also present at the briefing were: General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Mr Wale Musa and the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje.

    Lawanson said the earlier statement announcing diversion and road closure had been reversed, adding that residents were free to go about their businesses.

    He said the state government was reversing its earlier position in conjunction with federal operatives and the APC to ensure minimal discomfort and minimal disruptions of businesses.

    The commissioner, who is also a member of the transport sub-committee for the Presidential visit and the APC rally, said “Lagosians have been very apprehensive that there will be traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedbacks that we intend to grind Lagos to a halt.

    “People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down Lagos; they think movement would be restricted and they are bracing themselves for what they anticipate would be the hardship that would be visited on them by the president’s visit and our own activities.

    “I repeat there will be between zero to the barest minimum amount of disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a Saturday like today.

    Read Also: Nigeria Airways ex-workers stage rally for Buhari’s reelection

    “So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos today and Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses today, Saturday,” Lawanson said.

    He said adequate arrangement had been firmed up to ensure free flow of traffic but residents should expect tight security around the routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of his visit and the venue of the rally.

    “We would just like to communicate that because we are expecting a high caliber personality no less a person than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the normal security precautions that attend a visit of this nature should be expected.

    “The President would visit Lagos tomorrow with the full retinue of security aides that protect him and his entourage but there will not be any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of normal activities,” the Commissioner said.

    He, however, said there would be huge presence of officials of the police, LASTMA, FRSC and other agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.

    “Around the venue of the rally which is the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that would support them tomorrow.

    “They will handle the traffic management around the venue tomorrow and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic,” the commissioner said.