Jos was agog as the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, doubled as a political carnival in Plateau State capital.
The Church service was underway at the COCIN Headquarters with anticipation high for President Bola Tinubu’s presence.
According to Daily Trust, traffic congestion gripped parts of the city due to political rallies on the streets. The Plateau State Government had earlier declared road diversions across Jos and Bukuru to ease the President’s convoy movement during the burial.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, explained in a Friday statement that the diversions were necessary to ensure smooth traffic flow. Political rivalry also appears to have melted away, with APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters holding side-by-side celebrations, waving banners with varying slogans.
Women and youth groups, along with party loyalists, were spotted in party-branded shirts, caps, and regalia. The Boys’ Brigade added to the spectacle with a parade accompanied by a live band.
Security around the Church is heavily enforced, with access granted only to those bearing special passes distributed earlier. Some clergy members were denied entry, leading to scuffles with security operatives.
Meanwhile, a large crowd has assembled at the Jos International Airport in Heipang to welcome President Tinubu, who is expected to arrive from Lagos shortly.
