The Adamawa State Government has denied President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to use the state-owned Ribadu Square in Yola for an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally on Monday stating that the site is under construction.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bashiru Ahmad, informed the presidency that the facility would not be available due to the renovations.
In his response to the President’s letter, Ahmad stated: “I write to acknowledge your letter ref. SH/COS/28/16/A/793 dated 3” January, 2023 addressed to His Excellency, the Governor, in respect of the above subject matter. “It is with utmost joy that we always welcome the news of a visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Adamawa State and always prepare to accord him a rousing welcome with the highest level of respect notwithstanding political party differences.
“Please note that, on this proposed visit that is scheduled for 9 January, 2023 and considering the purpose of the visit which is rally, the only befitting place (Ribadu Square) that is secured enough to host Mr. President, on occasions like this, and the surrounding infrastructural facilities are under extensive renovation. We, therefore, write to inform you that, much as we would want to provide a place befitting to receive Mr. President, we are constrained because we cannot guarantee the readiness of Ribadu Square before the due date of the flag-off. However, we are working round the clock and racing against time, along with the contractors, to get the place fairly ready to receive the President on the 18 January, 2023 when the presidential campaign train of the APC berths in our state.
“Sir, while hoping that you will take seriously the foregoing in your planning, accept, as always my highest respect for your esteemed office.”
Despite this, the APC’s Organizing Secretary in Adamawa, Mustapha Ribadu, has stated that the rally will proceed at an alternative location. The Director of Public Affairs, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN) Keyamo who is also the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity said that Buhari will participate in the campaign in at least ten different states in order to ensure the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the upcoming election.
He stated: “Recall that the President, out of his very busy schedule, had earlier attended the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Jos on the 15th of November, 2022. This was also after graciously accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling party.
“In the latest campaign timetable released yesterday (5th January 2023) the President is billed to join the Campaign Train in at least ten States.
“The states are Adamawa State on the 9th of January; Yobe State on the 10th of January; Sokoto State on the 16th of January; Kwara State on the 17th of January; Ogun State on the 25th of January; Cross Rivers State on the 30th of January; Nassarawa State on the 4th of February; Katsina State on the 6th of February; Imo State on the 14th of February and the Grand Finale in Lagos State on the 18th of February.
“The PCC expresses its profound gratitude to President Buhari, the leader of our great party for his sterling and inspirational leadership at this time and for galvanising our teeming members and supporters across the country.
“We urge our party and supporters to turn out en masse, as usual, in the forthcoming campaign rallies. The zero hours is nigh; our spirits must be high; we must not relent in this collective march to our victory that is divinely ordained.”
