Bauchi youths stone minister, others at Jonathan’s rally

There was pandemonium on Thursday at the Ibrahim Babangida Square, Venue of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign rally in Bauchi as angry youths pelted dignitaries at the event with dangerous objects like hammer, stones and slippers among other things.

Election violence

The youths, whose source of grievances could not be immediately ascertained, destroyed some of the canopies and plastic chairs.

The ‘supporters’, who had, before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage, chanted solidarity songs for the President and the PDP and marched round the venue with their drums and placards with the President’s picture, became unruly during the programme and began pelting dignitaries on the stand.

Security operatives had a tough time dispersing the restless supporters, who had stormed the square in large in large number.

A similar incident occurred on Monday when Governor Isa Yuguda and other dignitaries were stoned at the PDP governorship campaign rally at the Darazo mini-stadium by angry youths believed to be supporters of the

opposition All Progressives Congress.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted with bottled and sachet water while he was making his speech and pleading with the people of the state to vote for and support Jonathan and the PDP during next month’s general elections.

Other dignitaries, who were on the stand with the FCT minister while he was making his speech, were also stoned. Others bent down to avoid being hit by any of the missiles.

The minister paused for some seconds to wipe off water from his face.

Mohammed called on the President and other dignitaries to ignore the ugly turn of events, alleging that it was the handwork of the opposition.

“Fellow supporters of PDP, lets ignore what is happening. This is politics. It is the handwork of those who are bent on destroying politics in Nigeria,” he added.

When he shouted, “Nigeria”, the crowd shouted back “sai Buhari”, “sai Baba Buhari”, others chanted “Bama yi,” “Bama yi”, meaning we don’t support PDP.

All throughout the rally, which was very brief, youths chanted their support for the opposition APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen Muhammad Buhari, saying “Nigeria, sai Buhari.”

Bauchi youths stone minister, others at Jonathan’s rally