The Presidency on Saturday shed light on what transpired while President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was heading for the airport in Kampala, Uganda, on his way back to Nigeria, after the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.
Jonathan’s convoy was reportedly stoned by anti-Museveni protesters.
However, fielding questions from journalists, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said nothing of that nature actually happened.
He restated an earlier claim that the presidential convoy was not stoned in Kampala.
Narrating what he said was the true story, the presidential spokesman said, “What actually happened is that after the event the President was on his way to the airport when he was requested to return to his hotel, that there was an ongoing protest on his route to the airport.
“So the President decided to return.
“On the way to the hotel, the convoy passed through an area identified as a stronghold of the opposition.
“But the crowd was quite courteous and some even waved at us.
“However, a particular Ugandan VIP protection jeep seemed to enter a panic mode, given the neighbourhood, and began to swerve frantically from side to side, and in the process forcing passersby into a ditch.
“Those affected pelted the jeep with stones.
“It was a brief incident, lasting no more than a few seconds.”
Continuing, Niboro said, “When the Ugandans gave an all clear for the President to leave for the airport, the convoy came across a peaceful protest led by the leader of the opposition, Col. Kizza Besigye.
“They passed on one side and the president’s convoy passed the other side.
“There was no altercation whatsoever.
“There was no attack on Jonathan though some people may have been pushed out of the road by the Ugandan security Jeep after the President had passed the particular spot.”
News
No comments:
Post a Comment