Thugs have, on Monday, invaded the rally venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Kaduna with swords and machetes.
The attack came hours after Alhaji Abubakar’s anti-Igbo/anti-Yoruba ranting.
Alhaji Abubakar, while speaking at the Arewa town hall policy dialogue in Kaduna held on Sunday, October 16, had declared, amongst other things that what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the North and does not need a Yoruba candidate or an lgbo candidate.
He had said: “I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country.
“I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.
“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate.
“This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin”.
Meanwhile, earlier, the Kaduna State had denied the PDP presidential candidate the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna for his campaign rally.
The decision was, however, “deceptively and belatedly approved” only when an alternative arrangement has been made.
Confirming the incident, Atiku Abubakar wrote on his Twitter handle, @atiku:
“I have just received emergency reports of attacks on @OfficialPDPNig supporters by thugs sponsored to scuttle the ongoing PDP campaign rally in Kaduna State.
“This is undemocratic and against the Peace Accord all parties signed up for just a few weeks ago.”
Atiku, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call on all parties to call their supporters and members to order and to ensure that campaigns, just as with the elections themselves, are kept free, fair and safe.”
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