YOLA/By Tom Garba – A member of the House of Representatives representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Garba Hamman-Julde, narrowly escaped death over the weekend following attack by some angry youths over a perceived anti-Buhari stance.
Mr. Hamman -Julde scampered with tails between his legs while he was pelted with stones and chased out of his constituency by the angry youths.
The incident occurred at Central Primary School, Bali, when the lawmaker, an All Progressives Congress (APC Rep.) visited the area to donate a car and 11 motorcycles to party officials in the council.
Mr. Hamman-Julde had just delivered his speech and was about to present the vehicles’ keys to the officials when irate youths in their hundreds threw sand, stones and sachet water at him.
The lawmaker who apparently sustained some minor bruises on his head was immediately whisked away by security operatives deployed to the venue.
The Public Relation Officer of APC in Bali, Bala Takalafiya, who confirmed the incidence to our correspondent, said they did all they could to prevent the unfortunate incidence, adding that they were overpowered by the youths.
He said the youths’ grievances may not be unconnected with his recent interview to a foreign radio station in which he allegedly attempted to undermine the popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“That interview he granted to BBC did not go down well with the youths who said he claimed to have the same popularity with President Buhari.
“In the same interview, he said he is in favour of reordering of elections, a decision that many believe is a plot to unseat the president.
“It is as a result of all these that they vowed to pelt him whenever he comes here,” Takalafiya said.
A member of the party, Bello Garkuwa, also told our correspondent that Hamman-Julde’s gift was a smack of mischief to the party loyalists in Bali.
“Since we elected him to power, this is the first time he remembered to come and visit his constituency after almost two years, apparently because elections are around the corner.
“How can you abandon the party all this long only for you to show up with 11 motorcycles just to lure delegates in the upcoming election?
“I will advise him to start searching for what to do after this election because we, in Bali, have already decided on who we will support in 2019,” Garkuwa said.
Our correspondent reports that similar presentation of motorcycle keys that was billed for Mutum-Biyu in Gassol had to be postponed for security reasons.
When contacted on phone, the lawmaker promised to react to the incident as soon as he arrives Jalingo from Garba-Chede.
