JIGAWA, JANUARY 3, 2016 – Former Gvernor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has claimed that no
matter the oppression, if God wishes for him to be president in 2019,
nobody will stop him.
Lamido stated this Sunday night after dozens of heavily armed policemen
were deployed in Bamaina village of Birnin Kudu to prevent an initial
rally organised by hundreds of youths calling on the former governor to
contest 2019 Presidency.
He said, “the desperation by those in authorities of power today must know
that the same God that have made Balewa, Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala, Shagari,
Buhari, Babangida and Jonathan Presidents could do the same for me if
Allah so wishes”.
He said, “all this coersion and intimidation was because of my aspiration and I must tell them that no matter what, if Allah has destined that I will be President, they cannot stop me or deter me because that will
amount to fighting against the wish of God”, he stated.
The former governor, who briefed the Press on the situation said: “Leaders
should beware of the consequences that followed tyranny, impunity and
abuse of human dignity”.
Lamido said he was shocked with the revelation that young men could be
stopped from going to see their father, “I am their father and they are
coming to greet me and you are saying they have to ask for permit, permit
for what?”, he asked.
He said, “all over this country I’ve never heard of a mutual gathering
that requires one to ask for permit, even on Saturday, we were in Sokoto
for a wedding where thousands of people attended or even naming ceremonies
where hundreds attend, have you asked them to show their permit?, but
because it’s Sule Lamido, whoever that is coming to see me must acquire a
permit to do so”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said he has long passed the
stage of being intimidated by any one, adding, “for those policemen that
made people to lie on their bare backs simply because they were coming to
meet me should also note that they are no better people than those they
have punished”.
The policemen, numbering about 200, were in the early hours of Saturday
deployed in the town to prevent the rally from taking place although the
police spokesperson, DSP Abdul Jinjiri, said they are on routine patrol of
the area against likely breakdown of law and order.
The officers who have mounted a roadblock leading to Bamaina, the hometown of Lamido, were seen turning back several vehicles conveying people that were attending the rally.
One of the police officers in charge at the Bamaina police division told
our reporter who was also initially prevented from entering the town said,
“I cannot prevent you journalists from doing your statutory duties,
however, please, there won’t be any event here today”.
The rally which later took place inside the residence of the former
governor attracted thousands of youths that also addressed and explained
to him their motive of organising such an event.
The leader of the PDP Consultative Forum, Mallam Kabiru Nura, said the
forum has decided to acknowledge the fact that, “as our leader, we cannot
have a say on who would be our subsequent leaders aside those picked by
you”, he said.
Comrade Kabiru stressed that Lamido was among those that laboured to form
and nurture the PDP that was the brain behind the growth of many people in
the country.
On his part, Alhaji Lamido who addressed the crowd, informed the youths to
remain resolute in their sincere conviction for a great Nigeria future.
According to Lamido, “if your prayers for me to be the President of this
country is the wish of Allah, let it be, for Allah is the One that made
others like Jonathan, Tafawa Balewa, Obasanjo”, he stated.
He also warned leaders, “ to be wary of the impunity being perpetuated by
those at the helm of affairs, stating that posterity would surely judge
those that subjugate their subjects to unnecessary hardship”.
