President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday recalled how he was almost bombed near Kawo Bridge while travelling to Katsina in July 2014.
The president disclosed this while commissioning the Kawo Bridge rebuilt by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Buhari is on a two-day official visit to Kaduna to inaugurate projects executed by El-Rufai.
Buhari said, “They wanted to blow me (up). But my escort somehow stopped them. Before we came to this bridge, they became so desperate and there was a small market or something like that here.
“They exploded the device (bomb). God protected us and here I am again. Thank you very much, Your Excellency, and remarkably, you became my governor. I don’t think I have any input (in your becoming the governor). Zainab Ahmed also became my minister of finance. I didn’t know she was the daughter of a gentleman I respect and went to his house. This is a fabulous coincidence and I thank God for it. Therefore, I have taken your loyalty for granted.”
He earlier flew to Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of the state, where he inaugurated road projects in the Southern Kaduna town.
He also inaugurated the rebuilt multi-purpose Murtala Mohammed Square at exactly 11.45am.
While inaugurating the ultra-modern sports and shopping complex at the Murtala Square Kaduna, he said the governor was writing his name in “history in letters of gold” because of the laudable projects executed under his urban renewal programme in the state.
He said though he is from Daura, in Katsina State, there is a likelihood of staying in Kaduna after he must have left office in 2023.
Buhari pledged to the people of Kafanchan in Southern Kaduna that there was a possibility of establishing an Air Force base in the area to fortify the security in the southern part of the state.
The president visited the palace of the Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu II, shortly after the official inauguration of four township roads constructed by the Kaduna State Government in Kafanchan town.
He said the government would look into the possibility of modernising the Kafanchan railway station to boost rail and commercial activities in the area.
The monarch commended the President and governor for ensuring peace, security and infrastructural development in his domain, saying Kafanchan, had for ages been known as a commercial centre of repute in southern Kaduna.
