PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, traded words with the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Major-General
Muhammadu (rtd) over the burning of his campaign vehicles in Jos, Plateau
State.
President Jonathan, who is running on the banner of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) urged Buhari to call his supporters to order on the
grounds that suspected APC supporters burnt two of his campaign buses,
saying that the action was a sign of desperation on the part of the
opposition party.
However, the Buhari Campaign Organisation has distanced itself from the
allegation, saying that the incident in Jos was passed as a PDP on PDP
violence arising from the party’s rigged primaries.
In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, Director of Media and Publicity of PDP
Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, warned General
Buhari and the APC not to prepare the ground for the re-enactment of the
post-election violence of 2011.
Don’t prepare grounds for post-election violence — PDP
The statement read: “It is on record that General Buhari’s utterances since
2011 have fuelled violence especially the post-election violence in parts of
the North which claimed the lives of many youth corps members who were
deployed as ad-hoc staff for that year’s election.
“It is sad that up till now, General Buhari has refused to apologize to the
Nigerian people for that barbaric and shameful incident or show any remorse
for the actions of his supporters. He could not even bring himself to tender
an apology to the families of those young corps members that were hacked
to death and murdered in cold blood by his agents.
“As if that was not enough tragedy unleashed on the polity, General Buhari
recently said that the ‘baboon and the dog would be soaked in blood if what
happened in 2011 repeats itself in 2015.
“The Jos attack on the campaign buses of President Goodluck Jonathan
would appear to be a pointer to what the opposition APC presidential
candidate is planning before and after the February 14 presidential election.
“We, therefore, call on well-meaning Nigerians and members of the
international community to speak forcefully against this development, which
threatens our elections and democracy and which falls way below the
standard of best international practices.”
Free, fair elections
Also in a separate statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Political
Affairs, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, condemned the action, stressing
however, that the incident would not deter the determination of the Federal
Government to ensure free and fair elections in the country next month.
Alkali said: “We have observed a dangerous trend of politically motivated
violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by supporters of those who have
shown desperation to assume political power at all costs.
“While we are not surprised by acts of desperation already shown by these
people who have no articulate agenda for nation building, we are amazed at
how quickly they are willing to manifest their evil intentions on our dear
country.
“The incident in Jos, Plateau State where our campaign vehicles were
torched by irate youth supporters of the APC, underscores the need for
vigilance as we progress towards the General Elections. This criminal
behaviour, which was meant to intimidate others and deny them their
freedom of choice, stands condemned.
“The leaders whose utterances and conduct have encouraged this kind of
behaviour must bear full responsibility for this. With the way things are
going, it seems the ultimate agenda of making Nigeria ungovernable as
prophesied by these politicians is underway.
“In carrying out this unpatriotic behaviour, they wish to first of all discredit
the electoral process and set the stage for an orgy of violence once they fail
in the elections.
“Nigerians are well aware of these antics and are fully prepared to protect
their rights to freedom of choice.
“We condemn the acts of violence in Jos, Plateau State and also condemn
the threats to violence in every other part of the country. This ugly trend
must stop. We declare unequivocally that no Nigerian citizen should be
prevented from campaigning in any part of the country. We, therefore, call on
the law enforcement agencies to protect and guarantee the safety of every
Nigerian legitimately canvassing for votes all over the country.
“We invite law enforcement agencies to note the pronouncements of
desperate politicians who are bent on fanning the embers of hate and
threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections.
“We once more wish to reiterate the commitment of President Jonathan to a
peaceful and rancour-free electoral process. He has said times without
number that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. We wish to
sound a note of warning to politicians to desist from this vicious circle of
lies, rumours, intimidation and violence.”
Don’t demonize opponents—Buhari
Reacting to the allegation, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Buhari
Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that “the
incident in Jos was passed as a PDP on PDP violence flowing from their
rigged primaries. That is the earliest security report we got. Nobody should
change that and use it to demonize opponents.”
He noted that “General Buhari was the first to condemn this incident the
moment it was reported on Saturday. Check his Twitter handle. These were
his words: ‘I have been informed of the burning of PDP campaign buses in
Jos today. This is unacceptable! There is no excuse for this violence.’
“I am hoping that the police will immediately investigate, arrest and
prosecute the culprits. Our democracy cannot tolerate violence in any form.
PDP should leave us out of their Wahala.”
vanguard
http://afikpochictimes.com/?p=1037

As far as Nigeria is not burnt, i don't have a problem. Let politicians kill themselves over who will steal money. Not that they even care about us. A case of Obasanjo's presence at GEJ's daugther wedding should unveil to us who these politicians are.

Also recently,gunmen attacked APC supporters on their way to the presidential campaign rally in Rivers which left many with serious gun injuries,as if not enough dynamite explosion at the APC secretariat in the same Rivers has been confirmed by the police. Till date, has the presidency come out to condemn these acts. Preach to me that they are gunmen and unknown men and not PDP supporters. Buhari still swiftly denounced the act on his twitter handle despite knowing fully well that The bus incident was as a result of pdp in house rift over imposition of the state governor.

THE DAYS ARE NUMBERED.

COME FEBUHARI, NIGERIANS WILL VOTE FOR NOTHING BUT CHANGE.

#SAI BUHARI
GMB/OSINBAJO 2015

Once again the president is telling lies to the public. He has nothing to offer, no fresh ideas, no solutions, nothing, but still he wants four more years? FeBuhari comes...

#change
#GMB
#APC

Well Buhari has condemned the attack even though is party supporters aren't responsible, but GEJ is yet to condemn the PH shootings, explosion at APC office in Rivers state... yet Fani has the guts to spew rubbish #NigeriansSayNoToViolenceBeforeDuringAndAfterElectionsWin/Losse

So that's y Jonah too sent his boys to go nd bomb APC office in River state
GMB 2015

this people are soooo m0r0nic!

they cant even investigate and get details before falsely accusing opposition!

PDP to PDP fight they will accuse opposition!

APC = Violence

Pls let's vote wisely in Febuhary.