President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was again stoned
on Thursday by some aggrieved youths in Jalingo,
Taraba State.
Jonathan was in the city in continuation of the Peoples
Democratic Party’s presidential rally.
His convoy had before Thursday been stoned in Katsina
and Bauchi states when he went to seek the votes for
his re-election bid.
It was gathered that the windscreens and windows of
some of the vehicles on the convoy were destroyed
before security operatives used tear gas and horsewhips
to disperse the youths.
Those who witnessed the Thursday incident but pleaded
anonymity told The PUNCH that the incident occurred
when the President’s convoy was going to the palace of
the Emir of Muri, Abass Tafida, from the airport.
One of them said, “Security agents ensured that people
were moved very far from the main but at a point, the
convoy got to a particular village where the youths
became restive.
“Before we knew what was happening, they started
stoning the convoy.”
It however could not be determined as of press time if
anyone in the convoy was hurt or any arrests made.
One of our correspondents learnt that Jonathan, who
was unruffled by the incident, used the opportunity of
his visit to the state to meet with ailing Governor
Danbaba Suntai.
Suntai has been unable to return to work since he was
involved in a plane crash in October 2012.
The PUNCH learnt that Jonathan met with Suntai inside
the Government House, Jalingo.
But while Jonathan was busy campaigning, another set
of angry youths descended on the state PDP secretariat
in Jalingo.
It took the intervention of security agents to save the
edifice from being reduced to rubble by the angry
youths who vandalised 12 vehicles on the premises.
The spokesman for the PDP in the state, Napoleon
Adamu,who lamented the incident, said the youths were
protesting their non-inclusion in the preparation for
Jonathan’s visit.
He expressed anger that despite the Abuja accord
signed by all the presidential candidates , some elements
could still go as far as attacking members of the party.
He said, “We are happy that no life was lost and we
want to appeal to our teeming youths to eschew
violence and not to take the law into their own hands.
“Even before the date the President’s campaign was
fixed, the youths had been complaining that they were
not carried along by the committees constituted for the
visit.”
At the state stadium campaign ground, Jonathan said he
would ensure the completion of both the Kashimbila
Dam and the Mambilla Hydro Power projects in the
state if re-elected.
He added that plans were on to establish a presidential
resort at Mambilla to attract top government
functionaries and business moguls to the state.
Jonathan later moved to Yola, Adamawa State, where he
again assured the people that Michika and Madagali
Local government Areas would be recaptured by the
military from Boko Haram.
Jonathan told the crowd that his administration would
provide funds to enable those affected by insurgency to
rebuild their houses and live a meaningful life.
Making inferences about insinuations in certain quarters
that he was going about seeking re-election when Boko
Haram was intensifying its attacks on parts of the
North-East, the President urged the people to disregard
such.
“No human being with his right senses, except a mad
man, will encourage the insurgents to attack and kill
people for political purposes while he is going about
looking for votes,” Jonathan said at the Mahmud Ribadu
Square venue of the rally.
“No political leader will compromise his stance and
connive with terrorists under whatever circumstances
to declare war on his country,” he added.
Calling on the electorate to have confidence in the
leadership of the PDP for accelerated development,
Jonathan warned Nigerians against playing politics with
insecurity.
He said that his administration was “disturbed by the
insurgents’ activities” and added that it was mad for
political opponents to claim that he was not doing
much to end the insurgency which, according to him, is
a global phenomenon.
“This type of allegation from politicians who campaign
to garner votes from the electorate amounts to
madness. People should disregard such insinuations
because they are aimed at derailing our democracy,”
Jonathan added.
He advised the people to also vote for the PDP
governorship candidate in the state, Nuhu Ribadu,
whom, he said, would use his position to fight Boko
Haram.
A PDP topshot and a former Petroleum Minister, Prof.
Jibril Aminu; former acting Governor Umaru Fintiri; and
the Senate President, David Mark, jointly called on the
electorate to vote for Jonathan.
They said the best legacy the President and the
government of PDP could leave behind was a good
educational standard for the people.
The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu,
after thanking the people, presented the PDP flag to
Ribadu.
He also lifted the suspension of a former National
Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, and the state
executive of the PDP .
A little drama however happened when overzealous
security agents on horseback thrashed some of the
party supporters. This made some of the party loyalists
to react back by hauling chairs at the security
operatives.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/angry-youths-pelt-jonathans-convoy-with-stones-in-taraba/

First Class liar