Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu has called on Nigerian politicians to rise above petty issues and be democrats in not just words but also in deeds.

Kashamu was reacting to statement by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who accused him of being a pretender, Vanguard reports.

The senator-elect had a few days ago, showered praises on Tinubu over his role in the recently-concluded general elections. In response, Tinubu had taken a swipe at him, saying, he does not need praise-singing from someone who bought his election victory and is wanted in the United States for drug related offences.
Not happy with Tinubu’s response, Kashamu in a statement released on April 21, Tuesday, said he was shocked by the unwarranted attacks against him.

According to him, he was not singing Tinubu’s praises but was only being a true sportsman and thought it wise to congratulate those who won the 2015 general elections.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reaction to the innocuous congratulatory messages that I sent to him and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“First, I must say that I doubt if the statement was approved by him. However, if it was, I must state that I am taken aback by the unwarranted attacks against me as if we were still campaigning. It is unbecoming of someone of his stature and calibre.

“It is high time politicians and leaders rose above petty issues and raise the bar in constitutional democracy. We should not just be democrats in words but also in deeds. We should play politics without bitterness.

“It is on record that no Nigerian politician has taken former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the cleaners even as a sitting President like Asiwaju Tinubu did. Yet, Chief Obasanjo forgave him. As for me and Baba Obasanjo, he remains my father and leader, just as I am his son and follower. At no time did I abuse Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“As a true party man, I campaigned vigorously for my party and its candidates. Now, the elections are over, and as a true sportsman, I thought I should congratulate those who won.

“Short of any praise-singing, what I said in the congratulatory message that they chose to react to a week after it was published was that there was no way anyone can wish away the achievements of Asiwaju Tinubu in the nation’s political annals, particularly in Yoruba land. Part of the message also reads: ‘Although I now belong to the opposition, your achievements transcend political divides and I am not ashamed to publicly acknowledge them. I salute your courage, commitment, doggedness, forthrightness and tenacity of purpose even in the face of daunting opposition and challenges. By your sheer wit and unwavering commitment to democratic ethos, true federalism and economic prosperity, you led the Alliance for Democracy (AD) from a one-party state to a regional party, and now a national party that is about to form the government at the centre.

“How do these translate to praise-singing? Are they not facts of history that I merely adumbrated?

“He accused me of purchasing my election with money, the appropriate forum to prove that is the election petitions tribunal and not the pages of newspaper.

“On the U.S case, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that the United States as the bastion of democracy and the Rule of Law would not lend itself to any form of abuse of the fundamental human rights of an innocent soul, especially one that has been arrested, tried and freed by its most trusted ally – the United Kingdom.

“I am not running from any trial. All I have asked is for the relevant parties to follow due process – if they believe that I yet have a case to answer.”

Kashamu added that no one should play God, saying, “I believe in the supremacy of the almighty Allah who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners. ’I stand with the almighty Allah Subhana Wa Tala. He is the protector of all humans. He is my refuge and shield.”

US officials have insisted that Kashamu ought to be jail instead of the senatorial seat and they have reportedly started fresh moves for his extradition to face drug trafficking charges on American soil.

Kashamu had filed a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through his lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, accusing former president Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind these moves.

http://www.naij.com/425850-rise-above-petty-isues-kashamu-repsonds-to-tinubu.html