President Muhammadu Buhari was
absent at the All Progressives Congress (APC) grand rally in Lokoja,
Kogi State to drum support for the candidature of Prince Abubakar Audu
in the November 21 governorship election.
The
rally, held at the Lokoja International Stadium, was also not
attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo or any representative of the
President, although it drew some national leaders of the party and some
APC governors from the North Central.
Buhari was expected to present his party’s candidate to the
electorate by raising his hand at the rally in line with political
tradition.
The rally, earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 24, was shifted to
yesterday after the President had reportedly asked to be excused
because he was indisposed. There was, however, no official communication
on why Buhari did not turn up at the rescheduled event yesterday.
Some APC members linked Buhari’s absence at the rally to the
six-year-old case against the governorship candidate by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a related development, a group calling itself Kogi APC
stakeholders in an advertorial, yesterday, accused the President of
vendetta against Audu.
In the advertorial signed by Elder Okpanachi Ameh Obulo, the group
accused Buhari of trying to settle old scores with the governorship
candidate.
“We know our President as the father of all will not give a listening
ear to sycophants and fifth columnists desperately trying to force him
down the path of vendetta”, it stated.
“But we are a bit apprehensive over some conflicting signals that
tend to validate the speculations that there are scores to settle in
high places. “The most recent was the cancellation of the grand rally
planned for last Saturday in Lokoja.
“Mr. President was not able to attend and perform his traditional
role of presenting the candidate to the electorate. There were reports
in the media alleging that the absence of Mr. President was actually a
premeditated retributive boycott”.
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