BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Excitement and fanfare ruled the airwaves in Jos, the Plateau State capital as President Muhammadu Buhari harvested some political bigwigs from opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.
With a swelling crowd of party’s supporters and sympathizers assuring the President that his second term bid is a done deal, the APC presidential campaign team was upbeat welcoming the PDP stalwarts who switched party allegiance on the day.
New comers to the governing party’s fold include; Senator Victor Lar; Awalu Dankurma; Senator Sati Gogwum, Hon Jacob Kassem; Barrister Simon Barry; Burki Ayuba Gufwan; and Wokduna Kanam among others. There were also politicians that came on board the APC train from other political parties.
In a Twitter message, President Buhari, who could not address the rally due to the unmanageable crowd of supporters, expressed appreciation to the people of Plateau for turning out in large numbers to welcome him in Jos.
“I can’t thank Plateau State enough for the overwhelming reception today. There were so many excited people, that I didn’t get a chance to address you. Thank you for your faith in us, & steadfastness over the years. We will not let you down, even as we seek another mandate from you”, the President said.
Venue of the rally, Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos was packed out by rapturous APC supporters, who kept chanting; Sai Baba, Sai Baba, in honour of the man they love and respect.
NAN reports that so much was the tumult that the President could not eventually address the crowd.
After waiting for about an hour, the President waved and acknowledged cheers from at the appreciative crowd, before leaving back to Abuja.
In a statement released after the rally, President Buhari lauded Plateau people for turning out in their thousands to welcome him into Jos, lining the roads right from the airport, defying the raging sun.
He also thanked them for their steadfastness over the years, and for continued faith in the administration, which was indicated by the turnout at the stadium.
He however, stressed the need for greater restraint from teeming supporters and appreciative Nigerians in other APC’s campaign stops ahead of the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The President urged party supporters to always allow the campaign programme run as planned, since it is also an opportunity for him to give a stewardship report.
The statement signed by the Special Adviser to Mr President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said; “We have been serving you for about four years, we want another four years mandate from you, it is needful for you to allow us give you a report. You deserve it.”
According to the APC’s itinerary, its nationwide campaign resumes on Monday, January 22, 2019 with President Buhari determined to cover all parts of the country, before the February 14 deadline for campaigns to end.
