Former Nigeria ruler Buhari draws thousands to rally

Reuters

30 March 2011

Former Nigeria ruler Buhari draws thousands to rally

Former Nigerian military ruler Muhammadu Buhari brought the northern city of Kano to a standstill on Tuesday as surging crowds packed the streets for a campaign rally ahead of elections in under two weeks time.

Buhari, the main challenger to President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 9 vote, has strong grassroots support in the north and his rally in Kano, the region's most populous city, had long been expected to draw thousands of people.

But even residents were taken aback by the turnout.

Youths banging drums and chanting “Nigeria sai Buhari” - “Nigeria belongs to Buhari” in the local Hausa language - lined the streets.