There was pandemonium in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria today as a rally organized to boost support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, ended in violence, with many people injured.
Reports said the rally, organised by a youth group to preach national unity, had gone ahead without incident until its purpose became crystal clear: that it was meant to...
promote Jonathan’s good deeds.
Some reports said a a good number of participants sustained various degrees of injury.
One online report linked the rally with Northern Youth Forum, which has members in the 19 Northern states. The reports also alleged that the rally was funded by one of the South-South governors, a rabid supporter of President Jonathan.
With the funds, the participants at the rally were said to have been transported 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.
One man who attended the event, said the rally turned violent after Mr. Tafida 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,” he 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.
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