Niger shuts campaign venue against Buhari

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has accused the Niger State Government of denying it the use of the Trade Fair Complex for its North central presidential campaign rally billed for Thursday.

President Goodluck Jonathan held his campaign at the complex last week.

Describing the development as worrisome, CPC’s Chairman Mallam Umaru Shuaibu told reporters in Minna yesterday that PDP’s refusal to allow it use the facility was aimed at frustrating the opposition.

Shuaibu said a formal request was made to the managers of the complex ahead of time, only for the government to insist that “the venue is not available for use.”

“Our major problem is the venue for our zonal Presidential flag-off campaign. We had earlier applied for the use of the Trade Fair complex but the state government, through its agents said the venue had been booked by an unnamed group from Monday to Thursday. It took them this long because they (government) were looking for excuse,” Shuaibu said.

He added that the government replied his application via a letter dated February 26, signed by Adamu Salihu, Executive Secretary of Niger State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who apologised that the venue had been booked for the week.

Shuaibu regretted that the government had in the past refused the party same venue He said: “Why are all these happening in Niger State? They (government) should remember it is a public facility and we insist on using the complex. Why is it that whenever we need the complex, government is jittery? This is a show of weakness on their part.”

“We consider the action as dictatorial and in a democracy, it is not acceptable. We are going to insist on the usage of the venue, even if it means coming on the streets to express our displeasure,”

But the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the Governor, Mallam Bala Abdulkadir, denied depriving the CPC Presidential candidate the use of the complex.

Abdulkadir, in a telephone interview with our correspondent said: “It is not true. The government did not and cannot deny anybody the usage of any public facility. The fact is that the complex is not managed by the government, but by the Niger Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber is not an agency or parastatal of government; we don’t control or influence its activities.

“It will be wrong of any party to accuse the government. Let them direct their allegation to the right quarters and not to the government,” Abdulkadir said.