Fred Ezeh
There was partial shutdown of economic and social activities in parts of Abuja on penultimate Wednesday and Thursday as a result of violent jubilation by supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was declared winner of the presidential election.
The over excited supporters took to the streets of Abuja and border towns to celebrate. Though, it was supposed to be peaceful but it went beyond that, resulting in the death of several persons who were reckless with the jubilation.
The jubilation took different dimensions in Mararaba, Masaka, Ado and New Nyanya, which are border towns with Abuja. Same was the case across other parts of Abuja.
It was like a carnival in some of the communities predominantly occupied by supporters of the president.
They took over the busy Abuja-Keffi Road, using their motorcycles, tricycles otherwise known as Keke, cars and other moveable objects freely to celebrate.
Police and other security officials were apparently overwhelmed by the violent activities of the supporters especially in Mararaba and Masaka.
Same scenario was recorded in Bwari, Lugbe, Kurudu, Dutse, Kuje, Gwagwalada and several other parts of Abuja. Same class of people, mostly okada and keke riders, were the champions of the violent jubilation.
The jubilation disrupted socioeconomic activities in the affected areas. The supporters forced motorists and other passersby to either shout “sai baba, next level or 4 + 4” before access was granted.
They temporarily suspended road traffic rules and other human right laws. They burnt tyres on the road, denied motorists movement. In addition, they vandalized vehicles and insisted that passersby must dance to their tune to have free passage.
Taiwo Adekoya, who works in Central Area, Abuja, but lives in Masaka, said he chose the option of passing a night in his friend’s apartment in Katampe, Abuja, as a precautionary measure:
“It is difficult to believe that, with all the suffering and hardship Nigerians passed through in past four years of Buhari, some people will unashamedly mention or support the re-election bid of the President, not to talk of even engaging in violent jubilation to the point of death. Anyway, it’s their choice.
“I doubt if these people live in today’s Nigeria where the person they celebrate was alleged to have orchestrated the increased poverty and economic hardship being faced in Nigeria through his economic and political decisions.”