Angry Nigerians pelt President Buhari in Kano
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, was confronted with the anger of Nigerian youths in Kano on Monday as his motorcade was blocked and his helicopter stoned amidst shouts of obscenities thrown at him.
That was the very first time he would experience the visible disapproval of youths in Kano State, where he had hitherto enjoyed unalloyed support since he emerged on the Nigerian political scene.
Buhari was in Kano to inaugurate some projects, which included the 10mw solar-powered electricity project sponsored by the Nigerian Social Investment Agency in the state.
Of course, security had been on the alert, and the state government had envisaged that the hardship occasioned on citizens by some federal government policies could cause upheavals.
In a press release, Abba Anwar, the chief press secretary to Kano State governor, wrote:
“Deeply concerned with the hardship caused by the limited time given for halting the use of old naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and for security reasons, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje reveals that the state resolved and wrote to the presidency that the visit of the president to commission some projects to be postponed.”
The President arrived at the Aminu Kano International airport in the morning and from there, he was conveyed by helicopter to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero.
But, in spite of the heavy security presence mounted on the routes leading to Ahmadu Bello way where the President was to launch Galaxy Backbone Limited’s project, angry youths holding stones of various sizes and wielding sticks reportedly attacked Buhari’s convoy and helicopter as it hovered above them.
Videos circulated on social media showed the moment the irate youths pelted stones at the helicopter believed to be conveying the president.
One video showed citizens angrily struggling with some unidentified security agents while a convoy made its way through their midst.
Another video showed a road littered with stones while teargas canisters were being fired to disperse the angry mob.
President Buhari had earlier suffered similar attacks in his Katsina hometown, as his popularity, even in Northern Nigeria, has plummeted so badly that his name attracted the irk of citizens.
Expectedly, opposition parties have seized on Buhari’s recent misfortunes to criticize his administration.
For instance, spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dino Melaye, who shared one of the videos from the reported attack, blamed it on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In a post, he wrote, “The fight between Tinubu and Buhari is entering a new dimension. The attack in Kano was properly coordinated and funded allegedly by Asiwaju.
“The meeting to push Buhari to submission or face sponsored attack in the north was said to be hatched in Burdillon. Me, I am busy with Atiku.”
A political activist, Deji Adeyanju, who shared another video of the reported attack, said, “They are showing Buhari and APC Shege in Kano and many northern states.”
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