Nigerians In The U.K Back Jonathan For Re-Election

Some Nigerians, resident in the United Kingdom, yesterday staged a rally in support of the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

From the early hours of yesterday, morning, organizers of the event drove through the streets of Saint James Square using loud hailers to alert residents about the planned solidarity protest.

Hundreds of supporters massed outside the city’s Chatham House to praise President Jonathan’s administration’s laudable achievements in office.

The supporters carried placards with inscriptions as: “We want Jonathan’’, “No to Buhari’’, “Buhari belongs to our past’’ and “Diaspora says no to a tyrant’’, “Nigerians in the UK say no to the return of a tyrant,” among others inscriptions.

They came to number 10, Saint James Square, venue of an event organized by the Chatham House in which the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, was one of the key speakers.

The event was Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s first public appearance since arriving London over a week ago, fueling speculations that he was undergoing medical treatment at an undisclosed London facility in some quarters.

Buhari, disappointed his followers when he failed to appear at an interactive meeting on Tuesday arranged for him by the APC in London at the Old Kent Road.

At the Tuesday’s political gathering, the trio of Chief John Oyegun, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Kaduna State governorship candidate, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, assured the gathering that Buhari was hale and hearty.

The London Metropolitan Police faced a hectic time trying to control the crowd as hours after the Jonathan supporters started their rally, the APC’s London branch also appeared praising Buhari and the APC national leaders.

“You can see now that the war against terror is almost over as the military are now in control,” said Ejike Amadi of the London for Jonathan group.

According to Amadi, “I just came back from Nigeria, the roads, railways, agriculture, education, power sector among many other sectors have not had it so good; the recent drop in the pump price of petrol by the President is a pointer to the fact that he handles national issues with the interest of the people at heart.”

He called on Nigerians to be wary of fake promises even as he described the recent attacks on President Jonathan and PDP campaign team in Jos, Bauchi and Katsina as barbaric and a manifestation of what to expect on insecurity if the APC takes control.

Amadi added, “if they couldn’t control their supporters in these areas, what is the guarantee that they can tackle insurgency in parts of the country?”

The national coordinator of the Solidarity for Good Governance, UK Chapter, Dr Hakeem Idris, enjoined Nigerians to vote massively for President Jonathan admonishing, “lets join hands to work for the victory and the unity of Nigeria.”

Mrs. Funke Adesida, a nurse at the London St. Thomas Hospital said, “I have come out this morning because the only thing that can now make any difference to Nigeria is to unite together and support the President. This is a chance we do not want to miss at any cost.”

Former Governor of Kwara, Senator Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Senator Bola Tinubu and Governor Adams Oshiomhole were on the APC entourage.