Mixed Feeling Hits Parts of Kaduna over Buhari’s Victory, as Residents Jubilate

 

It was a mixed feeling  in Kaduna metropolis as President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the Muslim-dominated northern part of Kaduna metropolis, it was celebration galore as residents of the area, mainly supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took to the streets in jubilation as soon as Buhari was declared winner.

A resident of Kurmin Mashi, who identified herself simply as Ummi, said the celebrations started by 1:00a.m. yesterday.

She said the area was agog with celebration which lasted till dawn.

She said; “We did not sleep at all with the celebration of Buhari’s victory. These people were going from house to house, disturbing people and knocking on our gates in the name of celebration. They didn’t allow us to sleep.”

The situation was said to have been the same in areas like Angwan Sarki, Tudun Wada, Rigassa, Angwan Dosa, Kawo among several others.

The city centre was deserted yesterday as most shops were yet to open since Saturday’s election.

The area was therefore taken over by the celebrants who drove  round some of the streets in convoy of cars and motorcycles with party music  from loud speakers mounted on a vehicle.

Some of them were seen driving dangerously on motorcycles and cars, without regards to traffic rules and regulations.

 

Many shops in the city centre, especially along the busy Ahmadu Bello Way, Independence Way, Lagos Street and Katsina road among others, had been closed since after Saturday’s elections.

However, in the Christian-dominated southern part of the metropolis, there was no such celebration as everywhere was quiet and solemn.

Some residents of the area, especially traders, stayed away from the city centre to “avoid any form of provocation in the name of celebrating Buhari.”

One of the residents in the area, Clement Joseph, said: “There is nothing wrong in celebrating your victory, but when you do it provocatively in other to anger your opponent, it is better to stay away for the sake of peace.

“Some of us didn’t go to the town because we want to avoid such provocation.”

Also, some people said the fear of the outcome of the election and the recent killings in a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State made them not to open their shops.

Kalu Mba, a textile dealer, said the fear of the violence after the election results as well as the recent killings in Kajuru created fears, and people were not ready to open their shops.