A
pro-Jonathan political rally, disguised as a Unity and Peace rally, has
ended abruptly on a tragic note in Kaduna, with an unspecified number
of participants reportedly injured, with some dripping with blood.
At
least two people were stabbed and rushed to hospital while several
others suffered minor injuries after participants began to use dangerous
weapons on one another, witnesses said.
The
rally, reportedly bankrolled by a governor from the South-south
geopolitical zone, was organized under the auspices of the Northern
Youth Forum, which has members in the 19 northern states.
The
governor is believed to have shelled out N500million for the rally
meant to buoy President Jonathan’s acceptance in the north ahead of the
2015 presidential election.
The
participants, those familiar with the organisation of the rally said,
were bused to Kaduna from all the 19 northern states and paid N3000
each.
In
the invitations to participants, organizer Jubril Tafida, a former
vice-chairman of a local government in Kaduna and current youth leader
of the Northern Youth Forum, had claimed the rally was called to promote
unity in the north.
But
shortly after the event began at the Murtala Muhammed Square in central
Kaduna, it dawned on participants that the rally was organised to drum
up support for the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan,
witnesses said.
Muhammed
Bello, who attended the event, said the rally turned violent after Mr.
Tafilda and other speakers began to heap praises on President Jonathan
in their speeches.
“As they praised Jonathan, some elements in the crowd began exhibiting campaign posters of the President,” Mr. Bello said. “A
lot of participants became angry and they started throwing stones and
bottles at the organizers. People started running in different
directions. Some people were saying they don’t want to hear Jonathan’s
name at the rally.”
Another witness said the police was later called in to restore order.
“The police started shooting teargas until everyone dispersed,” he said.
Spokesperson
of the Kaduna state police command, Aminu Lawan, could not be reached
to comment for this story, as calls to his telephone failed to connect.
Mr. Tafida’s telephone was also switched off the several times reporter called.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment