Catholic Church Fears Post Election Violence, Asks Nigerians To Stockpile Food, Says It’ll Deploy 4,889 Observers In 23 States

January 30, 2015

Catholic Church under the canopy of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has expressed fear that the way things are going, there may be outbreak of violence that would lead to loss of lives, as a result of which it advised Nigerians to stockpile food items in case shops close for some days, even as it promised to deploy 4,889 of its members as election observers across 23 States of the country in the February general elections.
The Executive Secretary of Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey, at a news briefing today in Abuja expressed he expressed fears of possible outbreak of violence.
According to him, the current electoral campaigns leading to the general elections has already charged the political atmosphere thereby posing dangers and humanitarian emergencies.
“From our discussions with our partners in some parts of the country, the certain towns and cities are already so charged that potentially lives and properties are not safe, depending on the outcome of the elections. It does appear that a predetermined outcome for the elections is demanded by some groups that no matter how free and fair it is, if it does not suit them, they would resort to violence that could lead to loss of lives.”
“As you may know, there are several forms of humanitarian crises already brewing in Nigeria: There is the silent Sahel food crisis affecting the food and nutrition needs of those states in the Sahel region like Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe etc; there is the post-flood humanitarian crisis, with many still to recover their livelihoods even after billions of naira were collected; there is the potential Niger Delta crisis which could erupt anytime, and there is the mother of all humanitarian crises caused by Boko Haram which has led to the greatest displacements and miseries since the civil war.”
Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey said that the Catholic resolved, at a Contingency Planning meeting for possible elections violence attended by JDPC representatives from volatile states, that the Church and Mosque leaders should intensify sensitization of their members to avoid violence whatever the outcome of the elections
The Catholic, he said, also asked Clergymen themselves to avoid being used to incite or being partisan in their sermons and that Clergymen should admonish their members against inciting and abusive language in the social media
Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey said that it was also resolved that traditional leaders should hold meetings with youth leaders on the need for peaceful conduct during and after the elections even as it also called on parents and elderly relatives to caution their wards and warn them not to be used as instruments of violence by politicians.
It urged the citizens to be aware that during voting, there will be a card reader that would match the thump print on the permanent voter card with that of the holder and that it will therefore be useless to collect other people’s voter cards
“Citizens should not rely on the assurances of security agencies alone, as the scale of violence, if it happens, may overwhelm their capacity, and therefore must be extra vigilant
“Citizens must pray against violence. On this note the JDPCs will be holding prayer rallies across five geo-political zones, except for the North East.
In the case of a possible outbreak of Violence “we advise the citizens in volatile places to stock essential commodities in case shops are not open for days. Citizens should by now make arrangements for safe havens in case they have to escape from their homes; and those who can, should move their families from volatile areas, as the right to life is stronger than the right to vote
“After voting, although they could stay back to observe the counting, we advise ordinary citizens in volatile places to go home, and allow politicians to sort themselves out.
“The Catholic Church is deploying 4889 observers in 23 States, these observers will also stay back to observe to the end.
“We advise churches and mosques to set aside some funds to deal with possible humanitarian crises that may arise, to complement government effort which often times is inadequate and therefore unreliable; especially with the experience of the current IDPs situation. After more than four years of a humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram we should be more proficient in handling these things but government is still dropping items and going away. Up till now there are no proper camps.
“Finally, we advise Nigerians to know that politicians are all the same. If APC, everyone will move there and if PDP wins, they will move back to PDP, so it is not worth it destroying property and or especially destroying lives just because one set of politicians have lost elections.” [myad]

Buhari Cannot Face Jonathan In Intellectual Discourse – Fani-kayode: It’s Lie, Buhari Is Prepared For Debates, But… – Garba Shehu

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2015

Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has seen the decision by All Progressives Congress (APC) not to participate in the presidential debate being organized by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) as a ploy to shield its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari”s intellectual aziness from Nigerian and the international audience. This is even as Fani-Kayode’s counterpart in APC, Mallam Garba Shehu said that Buhari is prepared to face President Jonathan or anybody in public debate, but not the one being organised by broadcast stations that have denigrated and maligned his person and his family.
Different statements from the spokesmen of the two rival parties indicated that Fani-Kayode insisted that the APC knows that General Buhari will flunk it if he is subjected to the rigours of debate on issues of national governance and development, Garba Shehu made it clear that General Muhammadu Buhari has been preparing for other debates to which he has bee invited are.
Fani-Kayode said he was aware that the APC had already expressed its concerns, when approached by an international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of General Buhari, and had assured the news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.
“We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organized by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
“The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.
“Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.
“We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.
“If the APC truly believes that it is ‘a party of progressive intellectuals’, as it claims it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.
“Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.
“We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.
“We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.
“On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate.
“Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as “unhidden bias” and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.” [myad]

Ezekwesili To Okonjo-Iweala: Your Response To Soludo Is Ill-Mannered, Abusive

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2015

Former Vice President of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili has advised the Nigeria Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to redirect her energies towards confronting the issues that have ruined the country’s economy rather than declare war on critics.
Responding to a recent article by a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, on the economy, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala did not take kindly to most of the issues raised, particularly his assessment on President Goodluck Jonathan’s management of the economy in the last six years. Professor Soludo graded the president ‘F9’ or fail.
In her reaction via Twitter, Mrs. Ezekwesili condemned the tone of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s response to Soludo’s article, saying, more than ever, it provided the justification for calls for urgent national debate on the economy.
“With the “character” of response the manager of the economy – Finance Ministry – has given to @chukwumasoludo, a debate is imperative. Really!” Mrs. Ezekwesili said in a series of tweets. “Nation and people seem to be on an accelerated race to the bottom. So, sad! Why would a statement from government read like that? Gosh! It does not matter who gets the privilege of leading our nation on May 29th. Truth be told, there is ruin that we all must confront together. We must learn to debate in a democracy without being churlish and abusive. It will grow on us.”
Mrs. Ezekwesili has been waging a relentless campaign on and off social media, demanding that government rescue 217 schoolgirls kidnapped from their hostels at the Government Day Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in April, 2014.
She has also continued to campaign for better governance and more transparent management of the economy.
“People like me will never back off demanding,” she declared. “I speak very much because I am making up for all others who should be speaking out but have rather chosen the self-preservation path of silence.
“I repeat again, that article by @chukwumasoludo on the state of the economy is a new opportunity for us as a nation to debate not war. To call people names for speaking or asking questions is a waste of time. No name wrongly called can ever become the name rightly given. In a normal society where people are not busy with self-preservation and avoiding the personal cost of their conviction, we should have more (people) asking.
“No democracy that stands in enviable heights ever rose on the back of acquiescing, lethargic and kowtowing citizens. Every voice counts. It must never worry us that some swear by us, and others cannot stand the thought of us. That’s the way it will always be, and it is healthy. The spirit of true democracy resides in the willingness of leaders to debate and not war.”
Mrs. Ezekwesili, also known as “Madam Due Process” by her admirers during her days as the pioneer chairperson of the Nigerian Extractive industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Board, also added her voice to the demand for the release of the report on the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The audit was ordered by the Federal Government last year in the wake of allegations by the then CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido, over missing $20billion oil revenue.
“By the way, whatever happened to the Forensic Audit Report on missing $20 billion NNPC oil money that Ngozi promised?” Mrs. Ezekwesili asked. [myad]

APC Alleges PDP Has Set Aside $100 Million To Procure Judgement To Disqualify Buhari, It’s A Lie – PDP

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government of plotting to stop its presidential candidate in the February 14 election, General Muhammadu Buhari, by procuring judgment with the sum of $100 Million (about N10 Billion).
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said this when he addressed newsmen in Lagos said: “the rumour mill is spinning fast. Stories abound of a huge war chest of $100 million dollars being earmarked to grease the palm of any pliable Judge who can disqualify General Buhari and halt the electoral process. We do not know whether or not this allegation is true, but we do know that Nigerians do not want to return to ‘Egypt.’ We have been down this road before with disastrous consequences, and we do not want to tread that path again.
“With just a little over two weeks to next month’s general election, a rash of court cases has been instituted in an unrelenting effort to stop our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. At the last count, at least four cases have been filed by those who are undoubtedly fronting for the PDP and the Presidency, and all are working towards the same goal: Stop Buhari, Scuttle next month’s elections. We expect more cases to be filed in pursuit of this ignominious objective.”
Lai Mohammed alleged that several efforts have been made to stop General Buhari using the courts, saying: “after manipulating some elements of the judiciary workers to embark on strike to stop the courts from hearing cases that could be detrimental to their presidential candidate, the same puppeteers again manipulated the elements to end the strike, so they can kick-start their last strategy. At least, four cases have been filed, all aimed at one and one objective only: Stop Gen. Buhari.
“Suffice it to say that this stop-Buhari-at-all-cost campaign is being pursued simultaneously with the push to postpone next month elections, ostensibly because of the low level of PVC distribution but in the real sense an implementation of the stated mindset of the Presidency never to hand over to General Buhari, and then of course set up an interim government
“It is in view of the multiplicity of court cases at this late hour that we have decided to alert Nigerians to the execrable plan of the PDP and the Presidency.
“We have also decided to appeal directly to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to stoutly defend the independence and integrity of the judiciary at this critical moment, to avoid a repeat of what transpired in 1993 when unscrupulous elements constituted themselves into the infamous Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) that was used to annul the 1993 general elections, thus aborting the Third Republic and throwing the country into a deep and prolonged crisis.”
But, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described the allegation as laughable.
“They should accept that they have lost the election. Nigerians have rejected APC. They have nothing to offer but lies, lies and lies. That’s the only thing we can say. They should surrender and quit the race,” Metuh said. [myad]

Rotational Presidency: Solution To Nigeria Political Crisis, By Hamzat Ajayi Omeiza

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

It is an infallible truth that the quest for the control of the central government has been the remote cause of the major political crisis in Nigeria since its emancipation from the shackles of British colonialism in 1960.

This has manifested in different ways such as: coups and countercoups, civil war, religious crisis, and in recent years, insurgency.
The faulty nature of the Nigerian Federalism which projects centralization rather than evolution of powers, over-centralization and concentration of resource control at the centre rather than state autonomy and over lucrativity of the federal government which contradicts the ideal federal principle has intensified the struggle for the control of the central government by the federating units.

The genesis of this faulty federal structure of the country and its resultant fierce struggle for leadership at the centre is traceable to the period of infiltration of the military into the Nigeria political scene. The military from January 15th 1966 to October 1st 1979 invaded the Nigerian political scene and returned in December 31st 1983 after a brief moment of democratic experimentation until the final return to civil rule in 1999.The military introduced a hierarchical command structure of the military into the leadership of the country which are hitherto constituted a serious problem bedeviling the Nigerian federalism with seemingly no solution in sight .Prior to the encroachment of the military into the Nigerian politics which made the federal government too lucrative and attractive to all, through the centralization of resource control, the
quest and struggle for the control of the federal government was minimal.

For instance, the premier of the old northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, repeatedly turned down the invitation to govern at the center. He chose rather to limit his leadership to the northern region. At this time, the regions enjoyed autonomy.
Having failed to adopt an ideal federalism as adopted by the United State of America, Nigeria in the quest to overcome its political crisis has no alternative than to adopt a rotational presidency among the existing six geo-political zones of the country. Rejecting this political arrangement on the ground of being undemocratic and contrary to the American democracy is not in the interest of Nigerians. This is because democracy ceases to be democratic when it fails to promote the interest of the masses and to ensure their peaceful co-existence.
Also, Nigerians must be conscious of their peculiarities of ethnic and religious diversities in the quest for democratization and should domesticate democracy in line with them rather than merely adopting American democracy.
Rotating the presidency among the exiting six geo-political zones of Nigeria will not only reduce the political tension in the country, it will also strengthen and consolidate the unity of the country. Rotational presidency if adopted in Nigeria, will not only reduce the fear of domination of the minor ethnic groups by the majors ones, it will eliminate the ceaseless needs for sovereign national conferences which have not only engendered the waste of national resources but has also failed to solve the problem bedeviling the nation. Indeed, the only way forward for the emancipation of Nigeria from the shackles of socio-religious and political crisis that have threatened the peace and unity of the country over the years is to adopt the principle of rotational presidency, as presidency remains the only common heritage of all Nigerians. [myad]

5 Former Commissioners In Governor Jang’s Govt, Aspirant Dump PDP For APC

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

Five former commissioners in the administration of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State have defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress.

The six commissioners, who were received at the commencement of the governorship campaign rally of the party governorship candidate of APC in Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, were former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Nuhu Gagara; Special Duties, Mr. Danny Ajik; Environment, Nankin Bagudu; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Benehel Andong; Agriculture, Mr. Na-Allah Mutbam, and Special Adviser Media, Mr. Dan Manjang.

Also, the former PDP governorship aspirants, Professor Longmas Wapmuk and Mr. Godfrey Miri, and former Minister of State for Sciences and Technology, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and other top PDP members crossed carpet to APC.

Speaking at the rally, Lalong bemoaned the debt profile of the state, which he put at over N100bn, adding that there is a need to rescue the state from total collapse. He promised to lay a solid foundation of the development for the state.

He said that if elected into office, he will ensure that salaries of civil servant, who are the engine room of government, is paid as at when due and creation of job opportunities for the youth, who are the leaders of tomorrow.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Nuhu Gagara said the group is made up of men and women of integrity, who had worked at various times and in various capacities in Jang administration for the progress of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.

“In the light of above, we have decided to jump out of the sinking ship of the Peoples Democratic Party and declare for the All Progressives Congress and have decided to work for the victory of APC at all the elections in the state and at the federal level,” he said.

He said the group also intended to use its platform to break the tag of APC as a party of Muslims, which he noted some mischief makers were using to confuse the people of Plateau State. [myad]

Those Who Accuse Me Of Sponsoring Boko Haram Are Mad, Jonathan Screams

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that those who have been accusing him of being behind the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa State in particular and North East in general are mad people.

“Only mad people will accuse me of executing such dastardly act against his people,” Jonathan screamed when he addressed a Presidential campaign rally in Yola, capital of Adamawa state today.

He swore that he had no reason to sponsor the killing of children, women and the aged as, according to him, he had nothing to benefit from such deleterious actions.

He recalled that in the last election, he secured more than 65 per cent of the votes in the state, twice the votes he got from his home state, Bayelsa, adding that even from a political standpoint, killing of Adamawa people would amount to political suicide.
“In 2011, I had two times the number of votes I had in Bayelsa State. Why should I want to reduce that number of votes?” Mr. Jonathan queried. “Only a mad person can insinuate that the president is supporting Boko Haram.”

The President expressed sympathy for the people on the scale of terror unleashed on the state by Boko Haram insurgents, even as he promised that Adamawa would be the first among the three states that would be completely liberated from the insurgents.

He said that Michika which is one of the remaining two local governments in the hands of the insurgents has been liberated, saying: “we are totally committed to the liberation of Adamawa state,” he said. “Adamawa will be the first state that will be freed. As we are talking to you Michika Local Government area has been recaptured by our gallant soldiers. The remaining local government, Madagali will, insha Allah, be recaptured very soon.

“We are totally committed to Adamawa and it will be the first state that will be liberated. I feel so burdened about the excesses of Boko Haram.”

The president said that because of his concerns for the victims of the insurgency, his government has floated some mitigating measures such as the Safe Schools Initiative, victims support funds and other measures to cushion the suffering the victims were going through.

He promised to make massive investment in Agriculture and other key sectors for the rapid development of the state.
He enjoined the people to massively vote their gubernatorial candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, for development to be solidly rooted in the state.

“I knew him when I was a deputy governor and as a governor I monitored him till today. He has unique attributes. I believe he will join us to fight insecurity in Adamawa state.”

He said that Ribadu has the energy, intellectual capacity and wide range of network across the globe to rout Boko Haram insurgency. [myad]

Kingsley Kuku Disowns Asari Dokubo, Tompolo, Others Over Call For War

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, has made it clear that the meeting, which held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with Governor Seriake Dickson, and him in attendance did not discuss about going to war if President Goodluck Jonathan loses February election, but that it was called to ensure the prevalence of peace in the society rather than a forum to threaten violence.

Reacting to the call by a former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, for the arrest of ex-militant leaders of the Niger Delta over their alleged threat to go to war if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the next election, Kuku said the leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahadeen Dokubo-Asari, who issued the threat after a meeting, spoke his “personal opinion.”

The President special adviser, who is also the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, explained that the former militant leaders were invited to Yenagoa to hold talks on how to handle the tension caused by the recent attacks on the President in Katsina and Bauchi states during the ongoing presidential campaigns in those states.

He was not happy with the way General Danjuma rushed to the media to call for the arrest of Dokubo, Tompolo, saying that he should have sought for clarification on what transpired at the meeting.

The meeting, he emphasized, was held to douse the threat by some Niger Delta youths to retaliate the attack on the President in the two northern states, adding: “the meeting, which was called by a governor, could not have called for war. Only a section of the media heard Asari calling for war. We called the meeting of all ex-militants who were preparing to respond to the alleged attack of Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi.

“They were about to react but we held the meeting to douse the tension. We tried to explain to them that what they heard happened in Katsina and Bauchi was untrue. It is true that Asari was angry and had threatened to fight back.

“I advised the other agitators not to react. What Asari said was his personal opinion. I read the resolution and there was no call for war in the communique read.

“There was nothing like calling for war during the meeting; I’m sure Danjuma did not get his facts right. I will call him and explain the situation of things to him.”

Kuku challenged leaders in the North to take the bold decision to come out against the members of the Boko Haram sect, stressing that the fear of the military uniform would not stop terrorists attacks in the area.

“The North Eastern leaders, former heads of state, governors, senators, political leaders must come out against Boko Haram. They are the only people that can come out to say enough is enough.

“People fear the military uniform but it does not stop terrorists attack. When leaders play politics with insurgency, they will not see the end of it.”

Meanwhile, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, has reiterated his recent declaration that President Goodluck Jonathan must win next month’s election for Nigeria to continue to stay together.

Tompolo, who was also reacting to General Danjuma’s call for his arrest, asked: “where was Danjuma when Mallam Ciroma Adamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, and the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, made inciting statements about making Nigeria ungovernable.

The ex-Niger Delta militant queried why President Jonathan’s convoy was stoned in Katsina and Bauchi States while General Buhari had a peaceful outing when he campaigned in the Niger-Delta states. [myad]

Vice President Sambo Turns Buhari’s Special Adviser: It’s Suicidal To Personally Fight Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has offered a special advise to the Presidential candidate of opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari that his plan to personally lead the war against members of Boko Haram if he wins the February Presidential election will be suicidal.

Namadi Sambo who gave the advice at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Rally in Yola, Adamawa state today, said that his advice was against the backdrop of the advice given to Buhari by his presidential running mate to personally lead the war against Boko Haram if elected President in next month’s presidential election.

He therefore urged General Buhari to ignore the advice from his running mate, saying that any attempt by Buhari to lead such war would amount to a “suicide mission” in view of his age.

The Vice President suggested that APC should allow President Jonathan to continue to adopt what he called “a more scientific and modern” warfare in tackling the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I want to seize this opportunity to draw our attention to a publication, last week, credited to the vice-presidential candidate of the APC that their plan is to ask their presidential candidate, retired Major General Buhari, to lead the war against Boko Haram. I want to ask you a question, a retired 73-year-old General – can he run? No!

“Okay, let’s assume that he can run; how many metres can he run before he falls? The training of a General that retired in 1985 is it the same training that can address a modern war? No!

“Now we are fighting war with drones, with new ideas that our President, a PhD holder, a scientist that is using (his knowledge) to address the security issues of this country.”

Namadi Sambo added: “will he (Buhari) go with a suicidal proposal?”

He asked the electorate to support President Goodluck Jonathan, saying Jonathan is the answer to the nation’s security and the answer to its development.

Namadi Sambo reassured that the PDP-led administration would continue to do its best in addressing the nation’s security challenges across the country, adding that the President had earmarked funds for the completion of two hydro-power dams in Adamawa.

“I want to give you this good news that Mr President has approved the development and completion of Kiri Dam and Jada Dam.

“All these Dams will be provided with hydro-electricity power and an irrigation scheme, with which we are developing economic corridors in Adamawa state.

“In addition to that, in the transport sector, I have good news for you. Mr President has approved the dredging of River Benue.Very soon, we will have a river port and ships and boats from different parts of the world will be here in Yola.’’

The Vice President called on the electorate in the state to ensure that they obtain their PVCs to enable them to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and all other PDP candidates in the Feb. 14 and 28 general elections.

In his remarks, a chieftain of the PDP and a former Minister, Senator Jubril Aminu, said Adamawa people had resolved to vote for Jonathana/Sambo ticket as well as other PDP candidates in the state during the February elections. [myad]

PDP Accuses APC Of Inciting Violence Ahead Of February Elections

Greenbarge Reporters

January 29, 2015

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) of whipping up sentiments and inciting violence ahead of the scheduled February 14 and 28 general elections.

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said in a statement today in Abuja that the APC’s penchant for propaganda and threat of violence is mind-boggling.

“We are not, at all, surprised about the false alarm raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the PDP-controlled Federal Government is planning to declare a six-month state of emergency across the land. It is characteristic of the opposition to make spurious allegations in the build-up to the scheduled February general elections.

“The APC’s penchant for propaganda and threat of violence is mind-boggling. The narrative weaved together by the opposition party is disingenuous and it shows how desperate it has become in its impossible bid to dislodge the PDP-controlled Federal Government.

“It is clear that the APC now knows full well that a crushing defeat awaits it at the February 14 presidential election; otherwise why would it embark on this flight of illusion about a purported plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to precipitate violence prelude to the declaration of a state of emergency?

“We state categorically that the PDP is ready for the February 14 presidential elections and all subsequent elections; and is therefore not party to any imagined ploy to postpone or cancel the election.

“At no time has the PDP ever had the power to postpone or cancel elections. Moreover, the PDP has been consistent in stating its readiness for the forthcoming elections.

“We urge our numerous supporters and indeed all Nigerians to discountenance the panic-driven shenanigans of the APC.

“The inalienable right of every eligible Nigerian to participate in the political process of our great country is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution as amended and the relevant Electoral Laws.

“The PDP has neither the right nor inclination to dictate to anyone, including members of the opposition party, how he or she participates in the electoral process.

“If the APC is afraid that its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has fallen foul of the laws of the land, instead of crying wolf he should submit himself to the nearest police for interrogation and prosecution.

“We call on all Nigerians to be vigilant, because by its issuing this outlandish statement, the APC has unwittingly exposed its plot to whip up sentiments and incite the people to violence.

“The forthcoming election is not and should not be a do-or-die affair. We must state clearly that we are not impressed or in the least bit intimidated by their constant, boastful and empty threats. All the promises of violence in the world will not stop us from shaming them on February 14^th.

“The PDP is battle-ready and we are confident of victory in a free, fair and credible election on February 14 and 28.” [myad]

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