Security Tightened In Kaduna Ahead Of Buhari's Visit

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Security has been beefed up in Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State, ahead of Saturday's visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to declare open a special thank you musical festival for musicians whose songs aided the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections.

Security operatives have been drafted to strategic areas of Kaduna, including Ahmadu Bello Stadium, the venue of the event. Security operatives have sealed the main bowl and paths leading to the stadium.

In addition, the stadium has been decorated with the logo and colors of the festival. Tickets to the event are being sold at different outlets in the city.

SaharaReporters also learned that members of the State House Press Corps are currently undergoing a three-day retreat in Kaduna. The retreat was organized by Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s senior special assistant on media and publicity.

The musical festival, which is being sponsored by Zenith Bank, Sterling Bank and telecommunications company, Etisalat, is designed to raise funds for the artistes. The event has also been described as a platform to hunt for new talents to feature in a song by Dauda Kahutu Rara who sang a popular Hausa song “Masu gudu su gudu.”

Apart from President Buhari, some governors, including Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, will attend the festival. Mr. El-Rufai has stated that the festival was a purely private initiative, explaining that the state government would not commit any funds to it.

Governor El-Rufai had told reporters on Friday in Kaduna that the festival was not in any way organized to breed indiscipline or demean religious and cultural values, but purely as an appreciation festival to thank artists who aided the APC’s victory.

The governor said some individuals were deliberately injecting religious sentiments into the festival in order to advance political interests.

According to a presidential source, Mr. Buhari will also attend the convocation ceremony at Kaduna State University.

Source: SaharaReporters