How London Metropolitan Ensures Security Beefed Up At Chatham House AS Buhari, APC Leaders Address World Figures
All People’s Congress Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari(rtd) today will prove wrong claims that he has been hospitalised since arriving the Queen’s land over a week ago as he is billed to address a World political and press figures at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in the heart of the British Parliament in Central London.
Buhari has been billed to participate in an event entitled “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition”.
If he appears, it would be his first public appearance since arriving London over a week ago.
His non-appearance has fuelled speculations that his ailing condition may certify him as unfit to govern Nigeria if he wins the coming election. However, as the heat gathers for the occasion, there has been built-up tension with factions emerging from both sides of support and non-support for the former ddictator who remains emaciating and allegedly has been under care since arriving the United Kingdom.
It would however take his appearance today to douse the fear that he is hale and hearty and suitable for running for the election come next month.
Amid tension and anticipation that both Buhari faithful, PDP supporters and some NGOs are gearing up for confrontation during the Central London address on Thursday, British security authority have scaled up all protocol of venue access as it is claimed a huge crowd of both supporters, NGOs and oppositions are expected. They are putting together strategies to douse tensions and heated atmosphere by detailing more police to man the venue..
A source claimed that Chatham House want an assured tension free political atmosphere by beefing up security as it was gathered that only Chatham House staff members, APC Delegation list and a selected members of the press would be allowed to the event venue to minimise the risk of faction stand-offs.
Loyal media organizations from both sides have tensed up the political atmosphere both at home and in the Diaspora in different propaganda efforts to win hearts with social media groups and personal operators heating the polity through found and unfounded speculations to sell their ideas and candidates. The nations as it stands is in danger of anarchy and the outcome of Chatham appearance may determine further steps to be taken as the election approaches next month. Some NGO are also on queue to register their protests against Buhari’s feature as the APC, presidential candidate, claiming he has blood in his hands as a former military dictator.
In another development, All Progressives Congress has claimed it was the only political party that has the right answer to the numerous problems facing the country. According to the party’s publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC remains the only party that can roundly address Nigeria’s plethora of social political and economic tragedies which has befallen the country. He claimed statistics gathered across the nation have created the easiest strategy for handling the solutions with APC coming up with the right manifesto drawn up to approach those problems.
He urged Nigerians to rally round the party’s presidential torch-bearer, former military dictator, Muhammadu Buhari and guarantee his success in the next election.
According to him, three in one Nigerians have identified unemployment as the chore centre of the nation’s problems while 54% of the nation’s population expressed worries about the level of corruption, with another 52% worried about security.
He was speaking at an organised rally for the party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari who had been detailed to address a crowd of supporters in London’s Everlasting Arms Ministries Church, Old Kent Road, in southeast London .
Thousand of Nigerians who had awaited Buhari’s arrival and speech however were disappointed and in consternation of his current state as the former dictator was not in sight for the drawn day’s programe after wide publicity. The let down came amid speculations about Buhari’s state of health and claim in some quarters that he had been ill and was undergoing medical care somewhere in London. The ruling party had consistently claimed he would be unsuitable to govern Nigeria at this point in time
The former General however has failed to put up appearance in many organized functions aimed at boosting his image abroad and aimed to push up his campaign ratings since arriving UK a week ago.
Buhari since his arrival in London almost one week has been secretly kept off the sight of the public while APC other leaders are putting up appearance on his behalf to speak at organised functions.
On Tuesday, the APC Presidential candidate disappointed thousands of his UK supporters as he failed appear a much publicised interactive meeting and campaign session which had been organised in Old Kent Road, Southeast London. For the second time in a week, the former General has failed to appear in organised meetings in London fuelling bitter speculation that his rumoured ailing condition was far from party propaganda.
Several quarters , since his arriving London have speculated that his health has depreciated, as the frail-looking General ‘s main reason for visiting UK was his dwindling health.
At Tuesday’s political gathering, APC top shots John Oyegun, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate Mallam Nasir El-Rufai were on hand to structure out Buhari’s image when thousands of faithfuls who had thronged Everlasting Arms Ministries situated on Old Kent Road were let down by his non-appearance. They stepped in to address the party faithful and raised hopes that Buhari was hale and hearty. The interactive meeting had been put together to offer the opportunity of speaking to Buhari and allowing him to be well familiar with his fans and answer questions about his political strategy if he wins the coming election.
Thousands had thronged to the venue hoping to see General Buhari himself but APC Chair John Oyegun tendered apologies Buharis non appearance claiming he held up by other appointments.
Last Saturday, General Buhari had also failed to attend another interactive session held in central London. His wife Hajiya Aisha Buhari and wife of Vice presidential candidate of the opposition Mrs Dolapo Osibanjo stepped in to address the crowd.
Since arrival in the United Kingdom, General Buhari had neither been sighted nor address any gathering making the opposition party to walk into a straight jacket of bad publicity fwith claims that the party was deceiving his teeming fans across the World on the real situation with Buhari’s health and APC plans.
According to Chief Oyegun, however, General Buhari is well and in good health and will at a breifing at Chatham House in Central London on Thursday.
His claim that the retired general had come to the United Kingdom to relay his political plans for the nation and establish some trust and intimate the international community about his plans for the country however still dangles with doubtful objectivity and unless Buhari appears today at Chatham Houses to deliver his short but sharp speech, uncertainty may becloud the level of honesty and credibility of APC.
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