by James Sambo
Trouble broke out at the presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ibrahim Babangida Square, Bauchi, as irate youths stoned dignitaries with harmful objects.
During the course of the rally on Thursday, January 22, the youth reportedly pelted the politicians with hammers, stones and slippers while also destroying some of the canopies and plastic chairs at the venue.
Before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage, the youth had reportedly chanted solidarity songs for the President and the PDP and marched round the venue with their drums and placards, but during the programme they became angry and violent for yet unknown reasons.
One of the politicians at the receiving end of the pelting was FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was stoned with bottled and sachet water, while he was making his speech.
After briefly pausing to wipe the water from his face, the minister implored the President and other dignitaries to ignore the melee, saying that it was the handwork of “those who are bent on destroying politics in Nigeria.”
He said: “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.”
It was also reported that when the Minister shouted “Nigeria”, the crowd retorted in Hausa: “sai Buhari”, “sai Baba Buhari”, and “Bama yi,” “Bama yi”, which translates as “we don’t support PDP”.
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