NewsRescue
by Ibrahim Mohammad, Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero today said those thugs who attacked his convoy were hired by All Progressive Congress APC in the state.
Thugs attacked the governor’s convoy on their way back from a campaign rally.
The incident occurred around Bakin Ruwa Area of Igabi Local government area of the state.
It was gathered that youths threw stones at the convoy as they passed through the area around 5: pm.
The governor has condemned in strong terms the attack on his campaign team.
A statement by the Media Aide to the Governor, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki said the thugs were obviously hired by the opposition party to attack the convoy with the sole aim of throwing the state into confusion.
“It is unfortunate that the same APC that is chanting change has resorted to violence and threats.
“This show of desperation by the APC since the beginning of campaigns by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a clear indication that the opposition party is afraid of an imminent defeat in the forthcoming polls.
“We condemn the negative antics of the APC in influencing youths to take to violence.
“The PDP shall continue to resist any attempt at causing mayhem in Kaduna State.
“Government will not fold its arms and continue to watch as a violent minority seeks to intimidate the majority of our people into submission.
“Government will deal decisively with anyone trying to harass innocent people over elections. Every Nigerian is entitle to one vote and no one can deny the people this constitutional right,” he said.
Governor Yero also called on members and supporters of the PDP to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their own hands.
But in a swift reaction, in a statement signed by APC governorship candidate in the state spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan denied the allegation instead blamed the state governor Mukhtar Ramalan led thugs of destroying billboards of General Muhammadu Buhari and Malam Nasir El-Rufai at Barkin Ruwa and Kabala West Junction of Kaduna, the state capital.
According to him, when residents demanded explanations for the vandalism, they were attacked and beaten by the thugs.
“Yero was in the motorcade as his goons attacked persons and property with a ferocity that reportedly claimed lives.
“APC Governorship candidate, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has been warning for weeks that the PDP government has chosen a strategy of violence as the best guarantee against their imminent defeat in the February 2015 elections.
“Last week, thugs attacked APC supporters and campaign vehicles in the Badiko area of Kaduna.
“As tension mounted, we suspend our campaign tour of Zone 2, which is Kaduna Central with Kaduna city as its hub.
“The APC predicated its decision on the need to preserve peace by avoiding a clash with the PDP presidential rally slated for last Saturday.
“The party also asked its supporters to avoid Kaduna streets to frustrate attempts to provoke them and shoot them at sight.
“We are calling on INEC and the security agencies to firmly stop Yero from upsetting the peace and turning Kaduna into a theatre of war.
“Election is a civilised contest and we cannot allow Yero to turn his impending defeat into an inferno for everyone,” he said.