Major roads around the Central Business District of Abuja, the nation’s capital were yesterday shut down for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention at Eagle square, just barely a month after the city was locked down when President Goodluck Jonathan, publicly declared to run for a second term next year.
Consequently, business and other activities were paralysed within and around the nation’s capital, all the Ministries, parastatals, agencies as well as commissions in the Three Arm Zones came to a halt, as heavily armed security operatives mounted a blockade in the area.
It was gathered that like the November 11 declaration of President Jonathan, civil servants who work in offices around the venue of the event were told on Tuesday to stay at home.
The convention, was organised to affirm the status of the party’s national executives as well as to the endorse President Jonathan as its consensus candidate for the next year presidential election.
Visit round the city revealed a presence of heavy security personnel across the length and breadth of the city even as a Police branded Helicopter hovered above the Federal Capital Territory.
Also, men of the Nigerian Army and those of the Police were sighted at various spots on entry points into the city, conducting stop and search.
Peoples Daily reports that all the roads that lead to Eagle Square, the venue of the convention were closed to motorists, a development that caused several diversions and serious traffic jam across the city.
In particular, motorists and commuters coming from the notorious Mararaba- Nyanya axis, who were supposed to follow the Eagle Square route, were diverted to the Ministry of Finance axis enroute Wuse/ Berger axis.
Some commuters and motorists coming into the city from the Airport road, Zuba and Bwari, for their normal daily routine wasted hours on the heavy traffic gridlock before they could get to their different destinations.
Also, from Kubwa express road to AYA roundabout, and other major roads in the area, many commuters were forced stay hours in heavy traffic, with some even trekking long distance to their destinations and all the roads were blocked.
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