Bauchi youths stone minister, others at Jonathan’s rally

There was pandemonium on Thursday at the Ibrahim Babangida Square,
Venue of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign rally in
Bauchi as angry youths pelted dignitaries at the event with dangerous
objects like hammer, stones and slippers among other things.
The youths, whose source of grievances could not be immediately
ascertained, destroyed some of the canopies and plastic chairs.
The 'supporters', who had, before the arrival of President Goodluck
Jonathan and his entourage, chanted solidarity songs for the President
and the PDP and marched round the venue with their drums and placards
with the President's picture, became unruly during the programme and
began pelting dignitaries on the stand.
Security operatives had a tough time dispersing the restless
supporters, who had stormed the square in large in large number.
A similar incident occurred on Monday when Governor Isa Yuguda and
other dignitaries were stoned at the PDP governorship campaign rally
at the Darazo mini-stadium by angry youths believed to be supporters
of theopposition All Progressives Congress.
The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted with bottled and
sachet water while he was making his speech and pleading with the
people of the state to vote for and support Jonathan and the PDP
during next month's general elections.
Other dignitaries, who were on the stand with the FCT minister while
he was making his speech, were also stoned. Others bent down to avoid
being hit by any of the missiles.
The minister paused for some seconds to wipe off water from his face.
Mohammed called on the President and other dignitaries to ignore the
ugly turn of events, alleging that it was the handwork of the
opposition.
"Fellow supporters of PDP, lets ignore what is happening. This is
politics. It is the handwork of those who are bent on destroying
politics in Nigeria," he added.
When he shouted, "Nigeria", the crowd shouted back "sai Buhari", "sai
Baba Buhari", others chanted "Bama yi," "Bama yi", meaning we don't
support PDP.
All throughout the rally, which was very brief, youths chanted their
support for the opposition APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen
Muhammad Buhari, saying "Nigeria, sai Buhari.

Credits} the punch