PDP lied on alleged stoning of Buhari's helicopter in Kano - Presidency

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Presidency has described the spreading narrative of stone-pelting attack on President Muhammadu Buhari's helicopter in Kano State as an attempt by the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) to mislead the public on facts of the incident.

Some news outlets and mostly social media platforms had reported that angry residents hailed stones at one of the helicopters that carried some members of the President's entourage when he visited Kano State on a day state visit on Monday.

However, reacting to the incident, the Presidency said the narrative was wrong as Buhari was already being hosted to banquet at the Kano State Government House at the time of the incident, alleging further that the sponsors of the narrative were hoping to use it to drive a wedge between government and the ruling party.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the facts of reported incident, as provided by law enforcement agencies, were that it was a clash between the Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA) and thugs hired by a yet-to-be identified group.

The Presidency, however, berated the opposition party for celebrating a breakdown of public order, even though it was minor.

'We have seen fake reports of stone-pelting incident that took place at Hotoro area of Kano on the day of the visit to the city by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, an incident, even if minor, that should stand condemned by all well-meaning citizens.

'Facts on ground, as rendered by the law enforcement agencies, speak of a clash between the local road transport authorities, the Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA) and thugs hired by a yet-to-be identified group, that took place when the President was being treated to a banquet at the Government House, well after he had finished his projects commissioning.

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'The President was in the state to work the development, safety and security of the lives of common citizens and the happy thing about it was that the good people of Kano State were...