By Sadiq Umar, Abuja.
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation Tuesday reacted to rebuttal distancing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the controversial newspaper advertisement credited to Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, insisting, it is the opinion of the ruling party.
Spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, had on Tuesday said the opinion expressed in the adverts is that of Fayose and does not in any way represent the campaign organisation nor President Goodluck Jonathan’s.
However, a statement from the APC Presidential Campaign spokesperson, Mr. Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, said that the denial of Fayose’s adverts was “merely a case of a master dissociating himself from the errand boy after the message had backfired.”
“It doesn’t sound convincing, it is too casual and off-handed to impress anyone.” it said.
Adding:“The PDP needs to take this issue more seriously to underscore its commitment to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the non-violence pact entered into by the party and its presidential candidate.
“It is very irresponsible for the PDP to want to distance itself from the death threat to General Buhari, made by not only a sitting governor of the PDP but also a high ranking member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee.
“Just in case the PDP had forgotten, what was Fani-Kayode thinking in his mind when he challenged General Buhari to take a jog round a field? Was it to put him through a body fitness workout or to plant a sniper somewhere around the field?
“Whatever the intention of the PDP was about the health status of General Buhari, we in the APC Campaign believe in the exclusivity of the divine role in the matters of life and death.”
“It is not difficult for Nigerians to discern what the PDP’s odd intention towards the APC and its presidential candidate is. The PDP’s uncivilised death plot only exposes the mind-sets of the party and their cohorts.
“That the PDP can place such noxious campaign advertorial into the public domain, in a desperate attempt to promote an incompetent incumbent president is tantamount to PDP’s tradition of violence and victimization, as well as an eloquent commentary on how President Goodluck Jonathan runs his administration.”
The statement also demands for an independent investigation into what it called the PDP threat against its presidential candidate, Mr. Buhari, to ensure his safety and a free and fair election on February 14.
