Politics

Nigeria: Yobe Governor Buni Denies Being Attacked at Political Rally

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has condemned those peddling the rumour of his being pelted with stones by irate youth at a political rally in the state.

The governor in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Mamman Mohammed said: “We read with dismay Media reports making rounds that some party stalwarts were stoned at a rally in Gashua, Yobe state.

“We have found it necessary to respond to the false, alarming and precarious report to avoid misleading the general public.

“The rally witnessed a very large crowd ever seen in the political history of Gashua Town.

“The tumultuous crowd were out to welcome the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Governor Buni and members of the Campaign Council.

“Governor Buni walked freely through the crowd acknowledging cheers from the supporters as he walked to the podium.

“When it became obvious the the podium was threatened to collapse with an overwhelming crowd, the Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Sen. Muhammad Hassan, stopped all speeches after the Senate President.”

Hassan was said to have ordered everyone to get down from the podium for safety before it collapses, with the rally continuing with dances, “until all the dignitaries left, there was no breach of security and no one was attacked.”

The statement added that: “It was gathered that much later when the Governor and members of the Campaign Council had departed Gashua, two supporting groups were engaged in disagreements with threats to each other but never degenerated to attack.”

“The publishers of the fake news only engaged in a futile attempt to create an impression of a bad relationship between the people of Gashua and the APC government in Yobe state,” the statement further added.

Michael Olugbode in Damaturu