General Muhammadu Buhariyesterday dazzled large crowds in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, when he paid an unannounced visit there, and raised his hands up to the people at the celebration of Democracy Day.
Buhari, whose one-day visit held Lafia standstill for the period his stay there lasted, was in the state capital as early as 10am after he arrived from Makurdi in the neighbouring Benue State. His convoy drove straight to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s private residence along Abdul Kura Street, from where he drove in the same vehicle with the governor, to Collage of Agriculture, venue of the event.
Throughout his stay in Lafia, Buhari kept sealed lips, and declined to speak even to newsmen, but anytime he raised his right hand up to the people, he received thunderous cheers from various crowds which gathered at various locations to catch a glimpse of him.
Yesterday was the fourth time Buhari visited Lafia in the last one year along. The first was when he visited on Saturday, January 8, 2011, when he visited to present Al-Makura with the membership card of the CPC, after the latter decamped from the PDP; and the second was when he visited on March 22, 2011, in the days of his final campaign outing. But then, the then PDP government in the state, stopped him from entering the public arena to campaign, just as the Emirs of Lafia, Keffi and Nasarawa, Alhaji Mustapha Isa Agwai, Alhaji Yamusa Chindo and Alhaji Hassan Ahmed II, respectively vacated their palaces upon his arrival. He left the state in disappointment.
The fourth was when he visited on May 29, 2011, in another unannounced visit, to grace the occasion of the inauguration of the only CPC governor, Al-Makura.
When he visited yesterday, the same emirs who had refused to welcome him in their respective domains were in the crowds at the venue of the event, he went straight to them with greetings. The Emirs obliged him, accordingly.
He sat still at the event of the celebration, and moved on from there to other locations in Lafia where he commissioned some projects, as well as at the outskirt of Lafia, where he departed for Makurdi at about 3:30pm.
Other CPC stalwarts who visited Lafia for the event, were the party’s national chairman, Chief Tony Momoh, two former ministers, Nasir El-Rufai’ and Dr. Hassan Lawal
Al-Makura, who said there was cause to celebrate democracy, had these words to say about Buhari: “Your Excellency, as always, your presence in our midst today in solidarity with the people of Nasarawa State, gives us the much-needed inspiration in the onerous task of liberating our people from the shackles of ignorance, pauperism and backwardness. We cannot thank you enough for your continuous guidance.”
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