By Olusegun Olanrewaju and Ben Ogbemudia, with agency report
Despite the volley of gunshots that heralded him to the Borno State capital, Maiduguri yesterday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday reaffirmed his covenant with the Borno people.

Earlier in the day, a video had trended on social media, showing a group of people running helter-skelter as gunshots rend the air as Atiku’s motorcade strolled in town.

Borno is the home state of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima, hence things assumed a tense mood.

As the presidential campaign trail of the opposition PDP landed in Borno, an APC-controlled state yesterday, vandalised vehicles were seen in the convoy of Atiku at Ramat Square in Maiduguri.

The spokesman of the Atiku Campaign, Dino Melaye, blamed the attack on the ruling party in Borno State, but his claim has been debunked by the state Police Command, while the state chairman of the ruling APC, Bukar Dalori, also said the PDP spokesperson was being economical with the truth.

*Melaye claims more than 70 people in hospital

“They wanted to prevent us from holding the campaign. As we speak, 74 people are injured and hospitalised. Several vehicles were vandalised by APC thugs,” he said.

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Eyewitnesses said they saw hundreds of suspected political thugs at strategic locations along Maiduguri/Kano road.

Also, the PDP condemned the violent attack on its presidential campaign convoy in Maiduguri.

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement yesterday said the attack further confirms APC’s frustration, bitter envy, and disconcertedness over the overwhelming popularity of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Borno State, the North East Zone and across the nation.

It stated, “Our Party has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilised the thugs intending to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its presidential campaign rally in the state.

“Nigerians witnessed with horror how hundreds of APC’s armed thugs stationed at major roundabouts and intersections in the city of Maiduguri unleashed violence on the PDP Presidential Campaign convoy and innocent citizens going about their lawful activities in a gruesome attack that left over 70 persons gravely injured and hospitalised.”

*APC reacts

In his reaction to the development, the chairman of APC in Borno State, Ali Dalori, said there was no incidence of attack by APC thugs on any convoy of the opposition party in the state.

Dalori said Melaye was lying.

“I am disappointed by the allegations made by Dino Melaye that some APC thugs attacked Atiku’s convoy, while in Maiduguri for their presidential campaign rally.

“We all know that since Governor Babagana Zulum took over the mantle of leadership, he banned political thuggery across the state.

“Our ruling party is a law-abiding one, and that was why we, as a government, did not deny PDP a venue for their rally as witnessed in some states.

“All I know is that there is no PDP in Borno. And if Dino Melaye lacked what to tell the people of Borno or how to canvas for votes, he should desist from fabricating lies against our party.”

*Police deny attack too

Also yesterday, the police debunked PDP’s alleged attack on the motorcade of Atiku at a rally in Maiduguri.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kamilu Shatambaya, told newsmen that the allegation was baseless and had no truth in it.

Shatambaya described the report that Abubakar was attacked while addressing a rally in Maiduguri as mischievous.

He described the story as fake, a hoax, and an attempt by some unguided people to incite disturbances and disrupt the peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.

He explained that the rally was conducted successfully under tight and adequate security coverage.

“The candidate was accompanied to the Shehu of Borno’s palace after which he was accompanied to the Ramat Square where he addressed his supporters.

“The Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, was also at the venue to ensure that everything went on successfully.

“However, one Danladi Abbas (32) was arrested on Airport Road, Maiduguri, for throwing stones at the motorcade of the presidential candidate.

“Abbas and other hoodlums attempted to disrupt the motorcade, but they were chased, and luckily one of them was arrested and taken away for questioning,” he said.

Shatambaya said nobody had reported any case of an attack to any police station within Maiduguri and Jere.

“We also went round hospitals to ascertain the claim that more than 74 persons were hospitalised, but no such patient was found,” he added.

*Atiku restates covenant with electorate

But despite the ugly incident which has been condemned to the door-steps of the ruling party in the state, Atiku yesterday said the PDP had entered a covenant with the people of Borno State to restore sustainable peace, provide power, as well as resume oil and gas prospecting if he is elected into office come 2023.

Atiku said this while addressing a crowd of party supporters during the party’s campaign rally in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital.

He told the crowd that the campaign team paid a courtesy call on the paramount traditional ruler of the state, the Shehu of Borno, in his palace, where he tabled several requests to which the PDP promised to fulfil.

Atiku said, “Before we arrived here, we went to the palace of Shehu of Borno and he made the following requests. First, we restore peace and orderliness in Borno State and throughout the country.

“Secondly, he requested us to make sure that we reactivate Chad Basin Development Authority so that our farmers can go back to the farm so that we can produce food for our people so that we can also reduce unemployment and we promise him that.

“He requested that we make sure the local governments are supplied with power or electricity, which we promised we will do. Again, he requested that we should reactivate the exploration of oil and gas in the Chad Basin, which we promise we are going to do by the grace of God.”

The PDP candidate who expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their support and warm reception promised to ensure that the state regains its pride of place.

He also said, “We look forward to the day you will vote for PDP, enough of hunger, enough of insecurity, enough of unemployment, enough of suffering, enough of too much taxation. We will make sure that you are exempted from exorbitant taxation.”

Earlier, his running mate, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, while addressing the gathering said, “The problem of Nigeria today is just too much and the only person that can handle it and make sure that our children are happy again is Atiku Abubakar.

“We cannot allow the APC any more days after May 29, 2023, so they must go. But we have a lot of work to do and that work is for all of us who are here. You must come out to vote, you must bring your brothers, and your sisters, and you must defend that vote after voting, we don’t want them to steal your votes anymore.

“In Southern Nigeria, the South-South, the South-East, and South-West, we are going to vote for Atiku Abubakar. We want to show them that Nigerians are wiser, we cannot afford to give any more days after the eight years of APC because they have taken us into a very deep hole but Atiku Abubakar will bring us out and show us a new light.

“He will ensure that you don’t go to bed hungry, that there is food in the family. Our women will be able to provide for their children and men will be able to provide for their children and our children can go to school and will have jobs.”

Okowa further said, “That is the Nigeria we are looking forward to, that is Nigeria that Atiku Abubakar is going to provide for us. It is time for a new Nigerian and that new Nigeria we are talking about, it is only Atiku that can provide it.”