The government of Adamawa State has rejected the request for the use of Ribadu Square for its campaign rally slated for January 9th, 2023.
A letter addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President over the matter by the state governor said the venue is under renovation and would not be ready for use by the said date.
The government however suggested an alternative date of January 18th as the only acceptable date that the president can be received.
The Governor, Umaru Fintiri, was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019. Adamawa is the home state of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff,Professor Ibrahim Gambari, had earlier notified the state government of the planned visit of the President on that day to participate in the APC rally at Ribadu Square.
But in a reply to the Presidency’s letter, the Secretary to the State Government,Alhaji Bashiru Ahmad, said the facility which is owned by the state government would be unavailable on Monday.
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Ahmad in the reply to the Presidency letter said: “I write to acknowledge your letter ref. SH/COS/28/16/A/793 dated 3” January, 2023 addressed to His Excellency, the Governor, in respect of the above subject matter.
“It is with utmost joy that we always welcome the news of a visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Adamawa State and always prepare to accord him a rousing welcome with the highest level of respect notwithstanding political party differences.
“Please note that, on this proposed visit that is scheduled for 9 January, 2023 and considering the purpose of the visit which is rally, the only befitting place (Ribadu Square) that is secured enough to host Mr. President, on occasions like this, and the surrounding infrastructural facilities are under extensive renovation. We, therefore, write to inform you that, much as we would want to provide a place befitting to receive Mr. President, we are constrained because we cannot guarantee the readiness of Ribadu Square before the due date of the flag-off. However, we are working round the clock and racing against time, along with the contractors, to get the place fairly ready to receive the President on the 18 January, 2023 when the presidential campaign train of the APC berths in our state.
“Sir, while hoping that you will take seriously the foregoing in your planning, accept, as always my highest respect for your esteemed office.”