Beleaguered Maiduguri has become a hostile city for President Muhammadu Buhari as residents went from cheering the President to making rude remarks about him when he visited the North east city that used to be his stronghold, Wednesday.
According to video published online, as the President’s convoy blitzed through the city, the crowd that lined the streets shouted “Bama so”, Bama so”, which means “We Don’t want you”.
In the past, Buhari was received with chants of ‘Sai Buhari’.
The hostility against the President is not unconnected with the recent attacks by Boko Haram against communities and the one that incensed them the most was the killing on Sunday of commuters stranded overnight in the town of Auno, because soldiers locked their vehicles out from reaching the safer city of Maiduguri.
In the night, Boko Haram came on the attack, by blasting a fuel tanker in the queue, setting off a fire that killed 30 people, including two female students of the University of Maiduguri.
Dozens of women and children were also reportedly abducted by the Boko Haram.
President Buhari was in Ethiopia when the tragedy occurred and he only offered sops as usual and promises to rescue the abducted.
On his return to Nigeria, Buhari went to Maiduguri to condole with the government and people over the latest Boko Haram-induced tragedy.
As at press time, the presidency has not responded. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina posted on his Facebook page pictures of Buhari condoling various residents including the State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno HRM Abubakar Umar EL-kanemi at the Royal father’s palace.
