Security agents had a hectic time on Thursday controlling hundreds of Sokoto residents calling for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The drama occurred at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
Jonathan was in the palace to commiserate with Sultan Abubakar over the death of the 18th Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who died on Monday and was buried on Tuesday.
Freedom Online learned that the crowd was ‘organised and funded’ by a former governor of the North-West state.
The residents carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Come Back Baba Jonathan’, ‘Jibrin Tafida Support Group’, ‘Goodluck is our Man’, ‘We need Goodluck’.
When they saw Jonathan’s convoy, they started shouting: “Jonathan is our man, we need you”.
Some of them spoke in Hausa language.
Jonathan, accompanied by the deputy governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, and others, did not stop to acknowledge the greetings.
He went straight into the palace.
While speaking with the Sultan, he described the late Dasuki as a nationalist and a patriot par excellence.
To him, the late Sultan worked and died as a peace maker and a bridge builder.
“He worked tirelessly to ensure lasting peace and unity in Nigeria, while without peace and unity, there will be no development,” he said.
The former president further said that the demise of Dasuki was a national loss.
He said that his words of wisdom would continue to be remembered by all Nigerians.
Responding, the Sultan commended Jonathan for the condolence visit, saying, ” Allah gives and takes life”.
Abubakar further said that Jonathan’s condolence was for all Nigerians and not the people of Sokoto State alone.
While leaving the palace, some of the residents ran after the convoy.
