Drivers are in scarce supply in Kaduna State, even for N70,000 monthly to drive the campaign vehicles of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sources said hundreds of branded vehicles bearing Jonathan’s pictures are lying idle on the premises of Government House because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not get drivers to drive the vehicles around the town.
Kaduna is a potential flashpoint in the 2015 election given the state’s penchant to vote along religious lines. Neighborhoods dominated by Muslims are firmly against the candidacy of Jonathan.
Campaigning for him by a fellow Muslim is perceived as betrayal and could be met with violence. He is, however, popular in the southern part of the state where Christians hold sway.
But unlike in the Muslim dominated areas where Jonathan’s candidacy is not tolerated, his major opponent, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), enjoys support in both divides.
Even with the high rate of unemployment in the state, the campaign team of Jonathan, sources said, could not get drivers to drive his campaign vehicles.
“I was approached by a commercial driver to drive one of the campaign vehicles of Jonathan in the next two months for N140,000. I could not accept the job for fear of being attacked.
“You remember what happened in 2011 when PDP sympathisers were attacked. I fear that might happen again,” one driver stated.
He said those working for Jonathan are perceived as responsible for the insurgency plaguing the North.
Another man in Zaria who disclosed that he was approached to drive one of the campaign vehicles for N70,000 monthly, said he rejected the offer because he knew that his people would kill him once they see him in it.
The opposition against Jonathan among Muslim voters is borne out of the perception that he uses the church to campaign for his re-election, creating the impression that he is a Christian President.
Also in scarce supply are recruits to paste his campaign posters, especially in some parts of the state. The most populated areas, such as Zaria, Kawo, Tudun Wada and Rigassa; all strongholds of the APC.
Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had earlier disclosed that members of the PDP in the North are terrified to canvas for Jonathan for fear of being attacked due to his failure to deliver the dividends of democracy.
But Ibrahim Mansur, state PDP Publicity Secretary, denied that people are rejecting to drive the campaign vehicles of Jonathan.
According to him, the vehicles were not distributed to the state’s 23 councils because there were no council campaign coordinators.
“Now, we have a campaign coordinator for Kaduna State. He is Husseini Jalo. There are also campaign coordinators at the local government level. They are the ones that would take possession of the vehicles.
“So, the story that nobody wanted to work for the president’s re-election in the North is propaganda by the opposition who are jittery that Goodluck Jonathan will win Kaduna State,” he said.