PDP convention: FCT on high security alert as FG shuts down CBD

ABUJA-THE Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Abuja was in the
early hours of Wednesday put on high security alert
following preparations for the ratification of President
Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party ,PDP at the Eagle Square.
The convention which was yet to commence as at 10.30 am
had security operatives shut down the ever-busy Central
Business District where major government establishments
are located barring Civil Servants from accessing their
offices to carry out their statutory responsibilities.
In a bid to protect the party stalwarts all entry points to the
Central Area were blocked at least 3 to 5 kilometers away;
with vehicular and in some cases, human traffic diverted
using heavily guarded security cordon to ward off oncoming
vehicles as commuters are subjected to untold hardship of
walking and trekking long distances to their various
locations.
Coming into the CBD from Kubwa via Aso drive, commuters
were greeted by a security cordon at about a 100m off the
express way which is about five kilometers from the Eagle
Square where the announcement of the President’s sole
candidature for the PDP in the 2015 Presidential election
was to be made.
On the Nyanya-Mararaba axis, all vehicular and human
traffic were diverted at the Area 11 junction by the Force
Headquarter (over 1000mtrs away) as motorists and
commuters going to Wuse and other parts of the metropolis
were made to go through the Finance Ministry junction
(about 800mtrs away) to continue their journey.
Those coming from the Airport road had their advancement
terminated at the NNPC Towers area with no likelihood of
making a detour through alternative routes to their places of
work.
While many civil servants spoken to claimed ignorance of
the event, whilst decrying its necessity, others said they
were aware of it, but still had to come to work since no
public holiday was announced by government to that effect.
Lamenting the difficulties posed by the situation, a source
who pleaded anonymity mauled the President and the PDP’s
decision to still hold a primary, saying that: “why would they
cause so much pain and hardship when everybody knows
that Jonathan is the only person contesting on the platform
of the PDP.
“We all know that it is only the APC that’s conducting
presidential primaries today because they have five people
looking for the ticket. Even at that, I don’t think Lagosians
are going through what we are suffering here in Abuja.
They should have gone ahead and send his name to INEC as
their only candidate since nobody is challenging him instead
of pulling the economy backward by keeping workers away
from their offices”, he said.
Almost all government establishments in the CBD as well as
the 3 Arms Zone where the National Assembly, the Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeal, the Offices of the National
Security Adviser (NSA) the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) as well as the State
House were all deserted with few people seen loitering
around as most workers were unable to access their offices
due to security blockades.