The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has denied reports that his principal was attacked by stone peddlers during his recent visit to Kano State.
There were reports that President Buhari was Attacked by angry youths who hauled stones at his convoy when he visited Kano to inaugurate eight completes projects.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said the attack “is part of APC presidential candidate’s alleged plot to undermine the Presidency, cause confusion, trigger violence in the country, disrupt the conduct of the 2023 general elections and derail our democracy”.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Garba Shehu said at no time was stone hauled at President Buhari while his visit lasted.
The presidential spokesman stated that security reports had it that there was a clash between the Kano State transport company and thugs hired by some unidentified politicians after the president had finished inaugurating projects in the state.
He also criticised the PDP for its reaction to the incident, and advised the party to look inwards to see why their campaign is “destined to fail”.
The statement reads, “We have seen fake reports of stone-pelting incident that took place at Hotoro area of Kano during the visit to the city by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, an incident, even if minor, that should stand condemned by all well-meaning citizens.
“The facts on the ground, as rendered by the law enforcement agencies, speak of a clash between the local road transport authorities, the Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA), and thugs hired by a yet-to-be identified group, that took place when the President was being treated to a banquet at the Government House, well after he had finished his projects inauguration.
“The President was in the state for the development, safety and security of the lives of common citizens and the happy thing about it was that the good people of Kano State were appreciative of him for the progress the state and the nation are making under him.
“The divisive rhetoric of an opposition in a futile attempt to malign the image of the President and the candidates of the APC in the coming elections, and its desperate wedge-driving activities to cause a division between the party and the government is not what will give them victory.
“A so-called leading opposition party that controls 14 states, going into elections with eight or nine of the states in tow should look inwards to see why their campaign is flagging and destined to fail. Their defeat is a story foretold by many discerning individuals.”
“The stone-pelters as seen from the video in the fight against the traffic police were innocent children sponsored by politicians and terrorist sympathisers. There is no place for violence in a democracy.
“The PDP should use the opportunity of the electioneering to put their point of view in a democracy. When problems can be resolved through talks, there is no place for stone-pelting, arson and unruly behaviour as we are witnessing in some of the campaigns.
“It is equally unhealthy for society and it becomes the duty of political, social and religious leaders to correctly inform the misled youngsters to shun the path of violence which is inimical to their own future.
“Lastly is to say that the President has not lost his command and respect in Kano. For those who hold the border closure against him, they must come to realise that the 60-70 integrated rice mills in the city today would not have been in place if he had allowed the free-for-all smuggling to continue.”
The Presidency expressed worry that the PDP was encouraging violence during the electioneering instead of speaking against such dangerous a behaviour.
This comes days after Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje asked President Muhammadu Buhari to postpone his visit due to security issues that may arise due to the Naira swap deadline and fuel scarcity.
