THE Presidential campaign train of the All Progressive Congress, APC, is toady in Katsina, the home state of the President, Muhammadu Buhari. Like what happened on Saturday, when the train was in Nasarawa state, the home state of the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the reception accorded the Asiwaju was affably amiable. People came out in their multitudes, to welcome the man that is fast gaining ground as the next President of Nigeria.
Although Katsina state is in a state of mourning, as a result of the attack by bandits on about seven communities in Bakori Local Government Area, where more than eighty people lost their lives over the weekend, all the same, supporters of the APC took it upon themselves to honour the Asiwaju, by putting aside their sorrow, in order to show support and solidarity.
According to the chairman of the APC Progressive Governors Forum, H. E. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi state, who spoke in the company of almost all the APC governors of the north, since yesterday, when the governors arrived the state along with the Presidential candidate, they have been in a state of confusion and bewilderment, with regards the rally today. While some were of the opinion that the rally should be shifted to another date in order to mourn with the people, some, including the host governor, H.E. Aminu Masari, felt it shouldn’t be shifted, because doing that, would make the perpetrators of the crime happier.
When called upon to present the flag of the party to the gubernatorial candidate of the state, Dikko Umar Radda, the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Turakin Keffi, spoke in a grief-stricken manner, by calling for God’s intercession, to commit the souls of the deceased to the best part of the heavens, ameeen.
Before handing over the flag to Dikko Radda, in his characteristic manner of asking for a commitment from the people, the chairman enquired loudly, who is Nigeria’s next President? And the crowd answered in chorus, Tinubu!.
He repeated the question and got the same answer. Again he asked, who is the next governor of Katsina state? The crowd again answered Dikko! He thanked them, but with a plea, that come the 25th of this month and the 11th of next month, they should ensure the victory of all the APC candidates.
In an almost phonetically perfect way of calling the name of the state, after asking who is taking the Presidency of Nigeria, and the sound of his name resonated continuously, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said what about Katsina?, to which the crowd shouted Dikko! He repeated the question by calling the Katsina, with a near perfect Katsina accent. This I believe, would earn him plenty millage in the heart of many voters of the state, because he had called the name in a free from error manner.
From all indications, President Mubammadu Buhari was equally elated, and he showed it by way of raising the hands of the candidates and showing them round, like he did in Nasarawa state on Saturday. As always, he appealed to the people to vote for the APC, from top to bottom.
I was made to understand that there is a historical linkage between Katsina state and Nasarawa state, to the extent that a segment of the people of Nasarawa state, owe their ancestral origin to Katsina. Perhaps that may explain the reason behind their common benevolence in hospitality, the hospitality of which was shown for Tinubu in Nasarawa state on Saturday and repeated today in Katsina.
Since yesterday Sunday, some youths and women, including the physically challenged persons in Katsina State, addressed the press with a pledge, to vote for the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima. According to them, voting Tinubu to power would ensure a safer, stronger, and better Nigeria, and as a people, Nigerians would remain in near perfect peace and harmony.
In dismissing the prank of the opposition, with regards the agility or physical fitness of the candidate, the Coordinator of the Coalition of Katsina Groups for National Unity and Integration, Comrade Hamza Umar said, ruling Nigeria is not boxing or wrestling. It is about using the brain to bring positive changes, to which Tinubu is proficient.
He said Tinubu played a significant role in the democratic process of Nigeria from 1999 to date, especially in 2015, when he helped in the marketing of Muhammadu Buhari. The same was repeated in 2019, so it’s only fair for Katsina state residents in particular, and northerners in general, to support Tinubu, so that he can address Nigeria’s problems.
And today, it’s not only the people of Katsina that responded positively, even the weather, according to our friend, Maiwada Danmallam, seemed to have welcomed the Jagaba to Katsina.
Ibrahim is the director, publicity for the APC.