The Presidency has called on perpetrators of violence during Jonathan’s campaign stops in the North of Nigeria to desist from the acts of lawlessness forthwith. President Jonathan and his campaign team have had to deal with hostile audiences in Katsina and Bauchi; with stones and sachets of water hurled their way by irate youths during barnstorming sessions.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali in a statement captioned “This Nonsense Must Stop”, blamed the violent acts on supporters of the APC. He said the skirmishes were a negation of the non-violence peace pact signed recently in Abuja by all the presidential candidates.

The statement reads in part: When the peace pact by the major political parties participating in the 2015 general elections was signed, Nigerians heaved a great sigh of relief in the belief that the tensions stoked up in the build up to the campaigns will subside.

“President Jonathan who is also the leader of the PDP blazed the trail in appending his signature to the historic document. General Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of other parties also signed, pledging a violence-free electioneering process and rejection of uncouth and inciting language.

“Unfortunately, while President Jonathan and the PDP have remained bound by the letters and spirit of the peace pact, supporters of the APC candidate are having a field day, violating all the terms of the pact and engaging in violence even on the person and entourage of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The successive incidents in Katsina and Bauchi States where irate youth supporters of the APC unleashed a reign of terror on the convoy of the President are ominous wind that blows no one any good.

“A situation where any citizen of Nigeria, least of all the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be made unsafe in any part of Nigeria is unacceptable and stands condemned.

“Were it not for the maturity and professionalism of the security personnel on the convoy of the President, an ugly scenario provoked by these hooligans would have held sway. We commend the security agents for nipping the situation in the bud.”

Alkali added that:“We thank Nigerians for the rousing welcome accorded the President in all locations where the campaign team had visited so far. While the APC has continued to whip up sentiments and run a divisive campaign, we are satisfied with the show of love, support and solidarity shown by all Nigerians at our campaign venues.”

“Finally, we shall not allow desperate people to distract us from our drive to connect with Nigerian people and lift them to greater heights. This nonsense must stop.”

In a related development, the leadership of the Ijaw nation rose from a meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in the course of the week and declared that unless Jonathan was allowed a second term in office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “there will no longer be a One Nigeria.”

On his part, Senate President David Mark also blamed the attacks on the opposition and described them as “despicable desperation of the opposition.”