For the record, we condemn violence of any kind, by anyone, against anybody. Neither Muhammadu Buhari nor the APC has a hand in the stoning of Mr. President in Bauchi and Katsina States. Violence, of any kind, is alien to our strategies for peaceful, democratic change. Such incidents are a PDP affair that we have no business interfering with. However, we must set the record straight considering the PDPs desperation to conjure up any available excuse to postpone the February elections in its futile bid to avoid an inevitable defeat. We seek to affirm here that pelting stones at opponents is a PDP strategy that is promoted by Mr. President as an indicator of a leaders non-performance. In his reaction to the stoning of the then Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, President Jonathan addressed a PDP rally as follows: the only thing I want to tell you (referring to the PDP Guber candidate Seriake Dickson) in the presence of Bayelsa State is that I was here in this place some months ago and Bayelsans stoned the Governor. You must work hard to make sure Bayelsans dont stone you. The day I come here and Bayelsans stone you, I will follow and stone you. (February3, 2012. Source: The Punch). It is obvious that those who pelted stones at Mr. President are PDP members who chose a PDP rally to express their displeasure at the presidents non-performance. The fact that it occured in Bauchi and Katsina (States controlled by the PDP) and not Kano and Sokoto ( States controlled by the APC) vindicates our position. Therefore, Muhammadu Buhari and the APC cannot be blamed for the conduct of the PDP and its supporters. It is the PDP that should call its crumbling house to order. It is the PDP that should blame itself for its own poor record, and for fielding utterly incompetent and unpopular candidates. It is the PDP that must be called to order for its impunity and campaign of violence, and for violating Section 95 (1), (2) & (3) of the Electoral Act by waging a vicious campaign of ethnic and religious blackmail against General Buhari and Professor Osinbajo.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 10:16:58 +0000