By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign rally on Monday in Bauchi suffered a setback causing anger and confusion following power outage which abruptly grounded the mammoth crowd event at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium (ATBS).
The campaign rally was underway when the public address system boosting echoes of the event went off following the power line cut-off, thereby, leaving the APC dragnets in anger and confusion while battling for a way forward.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was on the podium alongside party chieftains, namely, national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the Director-General Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, among other top notches, had to move round the podium apparently bidding bye-bye to the crowd of people before stepping down and zoomed to his waiting vehicle on way to the airport.
The abrupt ending of the long-awaited event might not be unconnected with measures taken by chief security personnel on the entourage of the president to forestall any implication that might arise resulting from the power system failure at the stadium.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council Director General, Governor Simon Lalong; Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Governor Yahaya Bello; Bauchi State APC Governorship Candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (rtd) had already spoken, and it was the turn of APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu when the public address system became dead.
Senator Abdullahi Adamu had mounted the podium and was delivering his speech when the incident happened, while the electricity line could not be restored for about 10 minutes, which situation abruptly ended up the event.
After the Party’s National Chairman speech, it was learnt that the next person would be the APC Presidential candidate and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to round-up the speeches when, unfortunately the incident happened thereby bringing abruptly to an end the Northeast zonal presidential campaign rally in Bauchi.
The Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong earlier told the mammoth crowd at the APC presidential campaign rally that President Buhari’s legacy of transferring Bauchi to the Jagaban of Borgu would be jealously guided by the Bauchi APC Governorship candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (rtd).
“Mr. President, you said that is your legacy and your legacy would be the transfer today from Bauchi to the Jagaban of Borgu and his running mate. And that is going to be jealously guided, as I heard, by no other person than Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar himself”.
Lalong said, “My duty is to thank the people of Bauchi state for the tumultuous reception being given to Mr President and his entourage…’Jama’ar Bauchi munzo ne mu nuna muku babbar godiya domin soyayya da muke gani kuke nunawa shugaban kasa, da kuma soyayya wa jam’iyya da soyayya wa dan takaran gwamna na jam’iyyar mu”.
Lalong explained that the entire Northern Governors are solidly behind and even sworn to support the APC presidential candidate of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is no other person than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, hence their solid affirmation to the candidate today in Bauchi.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan recalled with regret how the previously led People’s Democracy Party (PDP) led Federal Government abandoned the Northeast geo-political zone to the Boko Haram insurgency until President Buhari came into office.
The APC Bauchi gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Sadique Baba Abubakar had in a welcome speech, recalled that he as Air Marshal of Nigerian Air Force worked with President Muhammadu Buhari for a period of five years, six months and thirteen days.
“Under the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari we established base at various locations across the country as security measures, namely Gusau, Katsina, Daura, Birnin Gwari, Agatu, Nguru, Bauchi, Gombe, Owerri and in Plateau state following the directive and support of the President.
