APC, Buhari behind attack on Jonathan inKatsina —PDPon january 22, 2015 at 8:25 am in news.
APC, Buhari behind attack on Jonathan in
Katsina —PDP
on january 22, 2015 at 8:25 am in news.
Katsina —PDP
on january 22, 2015 at 8:25 am in news.
Warn of consequences of a repeat
As APC condemns attack
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and
President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign
Organisation have accused the All Progressives
Congress, APC, and its Presidential candidate,
General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), of allegedly
masterminding the attack on President Goodluck
Jonathan, Tuesday, in Katsina State and asked the
APC and Buhari to call their supporters to order.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Director,
Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign
Organisation, PCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode,
described the action of the APC supporters at
Buhari’s home state as despicable, barbaric,
shameful and highly reprehensible, warning that
Buhari would be held responsible if anything
untoward happened to Jonathan.
They also warned that the consequences of a repeat
of such an act would be grave.
In his address, Fani- Kayode said: “Let us take
this opportunity to also serve them notice that if
anything untoward happens to our candidate or his
supporters during the course of this campaign we
shall hold Buhari and his party responsible and
the consequences would be grave, unimaginable and
far-reaching.
Despicable, barbaric and shameful
“Meanwhile, we call on our millions of supporters
all over the country to remain calm and not to
indulge in any form of violence or revenge attacks
despite this massive and unwarranted provocation.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), while going to Katsina for
his scheduled rally, a group of broom-wielding
vandals, chanting ‘sai Buhari’, hurled stones at the
convoy of the President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who, as you all
know, is our presidential candidate in the February
14 election.
“We consider that action despicable, barbaric,
shameful and highly reprehensible. It shows very
clearly the violent nature, disposition and character
of those individuals that were involved and the
presidential candidate that they support.
“The Katsina show of shame was the first case of
violence unleashed on our candidate by supporters
of the candidate of the APC, General Buhari, after
the signing of the historic Abuja Accord by the
presidential candidates of all the parties
participating in the election. The purpose of that
accord was to discourage violence before, during and
after the elections.
“The laudable intention of the accord has now been
irresponsibly violated by a group of miscreants and
vandals whose leader has proved to be wholly
incapable of keeping them in check and restraining
them from indulging in violence. It is worrisome
that this kind of violent reaction would manifest
when the election has not held and their candidate
has not yet lost.”
Buhari’ll suffer crushing defeat
Speaking further, Fani-Kayode said Buhari and his
party would suffer very serious defeat next month,
adding: “We are taking this opportunity to serve
notice today that by the grace of God and the
support of the well-meaning Nigerian electorate,
General Buhari will suffer a crushing defeat in the
hands of our candidate, President Jonathan, at the
polls.
“When we remember the post-election violence of
2011 after this same candidate lost, you must
appreciate the reason why we are raising these
concerns.
“Were it not for the gallant efforts of the security
personnel, this small group of violent vandals
would have harmed the President and caused
damage to the vehicles in his convoy.
“It is pertinent for us to point out the fact that our
candidate, our party and our numerous supporters
have so far behaved reasonably and responsibly
during the course of this campaign and the world
can attest to this with the peaceful rally that
General Buhari had in Bayelsa State, the home
state of our candidate.”
APC was never committed to the Abuja accord
Also, the national leadership of the PDP in a
statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary,
Chief Olisa Metuh, while condemning the attack on
Jonathan, said the attack was “a clear indication
that the APC is not ready to dial back on its rabid
desire to attain power through violence despite
signing a peace pact a week ago in Abuja.
He said the party would “no longer tolerate such
acts of violence on any of its members.
“This brazen attack on the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and our presidential candidate
clearly shows that the APC was never committed to
the spirit and letters of the Abuja peace accord
which they signed in the presence of prominent
Nigerians and international personalities.
“It is unfortunate that while the PDP and other
parties are busy ensuring that their members and
supporters remain committed to a peaceful
electioneering, the APC has been hatching plots to
unleash violence on our candidates and members.
“We invite Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and all
lovers of democracy to rise in condemnation of this
dangerous phenomenon. These early developments
clearly demonstrate that the comments and
declarations by the leaders of the APC that Nigeria
would be thrown into chaos and bloodshed should
it lose the February general elections were real.
“We commend the maturity and the ever peaceful
disposition of President Jonathan and the leaders of
the PDP even in the face of this unwarranted
attack.”
APC condemns attack
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC,
has strongly condemned the reported stoning of the
campaign convoy of President Jonathan in Katsina
State, saying “violence of any kind is totally
unacceptable to the party.”
In a statement signed yesterday in Lagos by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, the party said Jonathan should be free
to campaign anywhere in the country without
hindrance.
It said: “Even though the attack on the President’s
convoy took place a day after the provocative
death-wish newspaper advertorial that was put out
in the name of the President, nothing justifies the
stoning of the President’s convoy anywhere in the
country.”
The party restated its commitment to a continuous
enlightenment of its members and supporters to
eschew violence before, during and after next
month’s general elections, and urged other parties to
follow suit.”
‘’We consider election as a celebration of democracy,
not a do-or-die affair. Whether or not one agrees
with the campaign message of any party, engaging
in violence negates the very essence of democracy
and should be condemned by all,” the party said.
President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign
Organisation have accused the All Progressives
Congress, APC, and its Presidential candidate,
General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), of allegedly
masterminding the attack on President Goodluck
Jonathan, Tuesday, in Katsina State and asked the
APC and Buhari to call their supporters to order.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Director,
Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign
Organisation, PCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode,
described the action of the APC supporters at
Buhari’s home state as despicable, barbaric,
shameful and highly reprehensible, warning that
Buhari would be held responsible if anything
untoward happened to Jonathan.
They also warned that the consequences of a repeat
of such an act would be grave.
In his address, Fani- Kayode said: “Let us take
this opportunity to also serve them notice that if
anything untoward happens to our candidate or his
supporters during the course of this campaign we
shall hold Buhari and his party responsible and
the consequences would be grave, unimaginable and
far-reaching.
Despicable, barbaric and shameful
“Meanwhile, we call on our millions of supporters
all over the country to remain calm and not to
indulge in any form of violence or revenge attacks
despite this massive and unwarranted provocation.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), while going to Katsina for
his scheduled rally, a group of broom-wielding
vandals, chanting ‘sai Buhari’, hurled stones at the
convoy of the President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who, as you all
know, is our presidential candidate in the February
14 election.
“We consider that action despicable, barbaric,
shameful and highly reprehensible. It shows very
clearly the violent nature, disposition and character
of those individuals that were involved and the
presidential candidate that they support.
“The Katsina show of shame was the first case of
violence unleashed on our candidate by supporters
of the candidate of the APC, General Buhari, after
the signing of the historic Abuja Accord by the
presidential candidates of all the parties
participating in the election. The purpose of that
accord was to discourage violence before, during and
after the elections.
“The laudable intention of the accord has now been
irresponsibly violated by a group of miscreants and
vandals whose leader has proved to be wholly
incapable of keeping them in check and restraining
them from indulging in violence. It is worrisome
that this kind of violent reaction would manifest
when the election has not held and their candidate
has not yet lost.”
Buhari’ll suffer crushing defeat
Speaking further, Fani-Kayode said Buhari and his
party would suffer very serious defeat next month,
adding: “We are taking this opportunity to serve
notice today that by the grace of God and the
support of the well-meaning Nigerian electorate,
General Buhari will suffer a crushing defeat in the
hands of our candidate, President Jonathan, at the
polls.
“When we remember the post-election violence of
2011 after this same candidate lost, you must
appreciate the reason why we are raising these
concerns.
“Were it not for the gallant efforts of the security
personnel, this small group of violent vandals
would have harmed the President and caused
damage to the vehicles in his convoy.
“It is pertinent for us to point out the fact that our
candidate, our party and our numerous supporters
have so far behaved reasonably and responsibly
during the course of this campaign and the world
can attest to this with the peaceful rally that
General Buhari had in Bayelsa State, the home
state of our candidate.”
APC was never committed to the Abuja accord
Also, the national leadership of the PDP in a
statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary,
Chief Olisa Metuh, while condemning the attack on
Jonathan, said the attack was “a clear indication
that the APC is not ready to dial back on its rabid
desire to attain power through violence despite
signing a peace pact a week ago in Abuja.
He said the party would “no longer tolerate such
acts of violence on any of its members.
“This brazen attack on the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and our presidential candidate
clearly shows that the APC was never committed to
the spirit and letters of the Abuja peace accord
which they signed in the presence of prominent
Nigerians and international personalities.
“It is unfortunate that while the PDP and other
parties are busy ensuring that their members and
supporters remain committed to a peaceful
electioneering, the APC has been hatching plots to
unleash violence on our candidates and members.
“We invite Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and all
lovers of democracy to rise in condemnation of this
dangerous phenomenon. These early developments
clearly demonstrate that the comments and
declarations by the leaders of the APC that Nigeria
would be thrown into chaos and bloodshed should
it lose the February general elections were real.
“We commend the maturity and the ever peaceful
disposition of President Jonathan and the leaders of
the PDP even in the face of this unwarranted
attack.”
APC condemns attack
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC,
has strongly condemned the reported stoning of the
campaign convoy of President Jonathan in Katsina
State, saying “violence of any kind is totally
unacceptable to the party.”
In a statement signed yesterday in Lagos by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, the party said Jonathan should be free
to campaign anywhere in the country without
hindrance.
It said: “Even though the attack on the President’s
convoy took place a day after the provocative
death-wish newspaper advertorial that was put out
in the name of the President, nothing justifies the
stoning of the President’s convoy anywhere in the
country.”
The party restated its commitment to a continuous
enlightenment of its members and supporters to
eschew violence before, during and after next
month’s general elections, and urged other parties to
follow suit.”
‘’We consider election as a celebration of democracy,
not a do-or-die affair. Whether or not one agrees
with the campaign message of any party, engaging
in violence negates the very essence of democracy
and should be condemned by all,” the party said.
Source- Vanguard
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