Hoodlums Invade Atiku Hoodlums Invade Atiku Rally, Supporters Injured

*I’ll End Boko Haram, Says PDP Candidate

* Dankwambo Exits Wike’s Camp, Supports Atiku

AT least three persons on Monday, November 21 sustained varying degrees of injury in a clash involving a local gang, Kalare Boys, and supporters of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who was in Gombe State in continuation of his presidential campaign.

  A bus, one car and one Keke NAPEP were damaged in an ambushed along Pantami Stadium Road.

  The hoodlums, who were armed with cutlasses, swords, clubs and other weapons, descended on innocent party supporters who were on their way to their respective homes after the rally.

  The Police, who were manning Gate Number One of the stadium, quickly dispatched a detachment of armed policemen to the second gate to provide security for supporters who were already rushing back into the stadium for their safety.

  This led to many PDP supporters being stranded in the stadium, waiting for the Police to restore peace and order as the hoodlums blocked the route to Pantami Market and Government House, attacking passersby in broad daylight. Some PDP female supporters had to attach themselves to Police vans to avoid being attacked by the thugs.

  Earlier, Atiku, in his address, promised to ensure peace returned to Gombe State by ending the activities of Boko Haram and revamping the dam in the state.

  “I promise you that if you elect me, what we have started, I will ensure that the electricity that will be provided from Dakin-Kowa Dam will be sufficient for the entire Northeast. I will enhance farming, so that our farmers will have the opportunity to farm both during rainy and dry seasons. I will return peace to the state, because without peace, all these pledges that I made cannot be actualised.

  “I will wipe out Boko Haram. Boko Haram is nothing. We have wiped out Boko Haram in Adamawa, what will stop us from wiping out Boko Haram in Borno or Yobe or anywhere they are in this country?”

  Atiku assured that if given the mandate, he would be another Tafawa Balewa.

  Meanwhile, former governor of the state, Ibrahim Dankwambo, has declared support for Atiku, describing the ambition as a Northeast project.

  Dankwambo and Gombe PDP governorship candidate, Jibrin Dan Barde, have been associated with the G-5 group, now Integrity Group, led by Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, which championed the emergence of Wike as the party’s presidential flag bearer and has demanded is resignation of the PDP National chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition to back Atiku.

  The duo were absent at the opening of Atiku Presidential campaign office in Gombe some time ago, saying they were not invited. But at the campaign rally on Monday, Dankwambo donated 20 buses for the actualisation of Atiku’s aspiration, noting: “The whole party has welcomed Atiku, which shows they are with him.”