A member of the president’s campaign team told SaharaReporters that Mr. Jonathan was stoned on his way to Government House, Jalingo. An earlier report, now confirmed as erroneous, stated that the president’s entourage was attacked in Yola, the capital of Adamawa. “We didn't expect it. The security agents had tried all they could do by keeping the crowd off the road,” he said. The aide added: “But just as we were approaching the Government House, people started saying ‘Barawo.’ Before we knew it, they started throwing stones. It was that bad.”
The crisis bedeviling President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign continued in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State as he was jeered and stoned during a campaign event.
A member of the president’s campaign team told SaharaReporters that Mr. Jonathan was stoned on his way to Government House, Jalingo. An earlier report, now confirmed as erroneous, stated that the president’s entourage was attacked in Yola, the capital of Adamawa.
Hecklers and stone throwers besieged the president as he made his way to visit ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State. Reporters were excluded from the visit, which was termed a private event. The presidential aide who spoke to us on condition of anonymity stated that the stoning surprised the entourage. “We didn't expect it. The security agents had tried all they could do by keeping the crowd off the road,” he said.
The aide added: “But just as we were approaching the Government House, people started saying ‘Barawo.’ Before we knew it, they started throwing stones. It was that bad.”
The aide disclosed that part of the surprise of the president’s entourage came from the fact that Taraba is the home state of retired General Theophilus Y. Danjuma, a former Defense Minister in the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. “We believe that General Danjuma was on our side,” said the aide. Asked if the incident suggested that Mr. Danjuma was now against the incumbent president, the source replied, “I don’t know, but it doesn’t follow.”
However, the aide revealed that some members of the president’s inner circle were worried that some PDP leaders seem to have backed away from campaigning for the president.