Primary Elections @ Zaranda

Things are heating up as Nigeria approaches its presidential elections in April.  Members of the ruling PDP party have gone through the process of determining who their candidate will be.  To my surprise the nominations for Bauchi state were held here in the government owned hotel where I live rather than in a stadium as was done in some other states.

 There were hundreds of people in the lobby, parking lot and first floor. Armed military were stationed everywhere.  In our first floor workshop sessions, people could be heard chanting in the parking lot.  Some members of the military came up to advise those who had cars in the parking lot to make sure they were secured.

Eventually the campaigners and rabble rousers were moved outside the gates of the property.  During a break, I had to go to the lobby when a surge of people, armed men and cameras moved through.  My very protective colleague suggested that I should not be there gawking at all that was going on. Hmm, I wish I had my camera.  

Goodluck Jonathan, the current President who assumed the office after the untimely death of his predecessor, won the Primary for the PDP party.   Jonathan is from the South and the agreement of this new democratic government is for the presidency to alternate from northerner to southerner. Let the peoples will be done, greater unification,  is what is needed.