Borno declares Monday public holiday for Buhari

The Borno state government has declared Monday February 16 as a work-free-day ahead of the visit of the Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the state.

Alhaji Ahmed Jidda, secretary to the state government, announced this in a statement in Maiduguri.

Jidda said that the gesture was to enable residents of the state receive Buhari during his campaign rally.

“The Borno government has declared Monday as a work-free-day,” he said.

“The declaration is to enable the people of the state welcome the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, who will arrive Maiduguri on a campaign visit on Monday.”

Jidda urged party supporters to come out en masse to welcome the visitor.

Kashim Shettima, governor of the state, enjoined all Borno residents to “come out en masse and line up the streets to welcome the Peoples’ General”.

Buhari’s campaign team had dithered over the choice of a date for his campaign rally in Borno due to security concerns.