President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday the 10th
dismissed the allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his
Thursday’s visit to Lagos
was to coordinate rigging plans for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
today’s governorship election.
He wondered why he would rig the governorship
election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he did not rig the March
28th presidential election in which he was a candidate.
President Jonathan’s position was contained in a
statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Abati told the news men that there was nothing
unusual in people paying homage to the President when he is on a visit to Lagos or any other part
of the country.
He said the All Progressive Congress (APC)
spokesman lied as usual and was rude to insinuate that President Jonathan met
with people in Lagos
for the purpose of rigging the poll.
Dr. Abati said Lai Muhammed and his paymasters
were only cooking up meaningless tales in order to change the commendation President
Jonathan had received across the globe for conceding defeat in the presidential
election.
He said, “Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that Mr. President
came to Lagos
to rig the governorship and House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday
the April 11th. He is of course lying as usual.
“President Jonathan visited Lagos. He arrived on Thursday the 9th
and left on Friday 10th. People visited him. So what? Anytime the
President of a Country is in Lagos
or any part of the Country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him.
“Nothing unusual happened during his last visit
to Lagos.
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s visit to the President in Lagos is not something that anybody should
use to play politics. Senator Obanikoro is a Minister of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria. He came to see his boss.
“Mr. Jimi Agbaje is the governorship candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State.
I don’t see how his visit to the President, who is also the leader of his
party, should become an issue.
“Yes, Gani Adams also visited, but so did a lot
of other people.”
Abati added that the President did not hold
meetings with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials
neither did he meet with the police, polling officials or with anybody who is
involved in organising elections.
Abati said to claim that Mr. President went to Lagos to supervise the
rigging of today’s (11/04/2015) election was most uncharitable and cruel.
Abati said, “After the presidential election, Mr.
President immediately congratulated Gen. Buhari and the whole world has
commended him for saving Nigeria.
“President Jonathan’s sportsmanship,
statesmanship and leadership saved this country at that critical moment. He has
demonstrated his commitment to free and fair election, the rule of law and due
process. He has shown that he is a man of character, honour and integrity.
Nigerians generally are proud of him.
“He has left a worthy legacy and shown a great Legacy.
That, obviously, is the narrative that Lai Muhammed and his masters want to
change, so they are now cooking up meaningless tales.
“Lai Muhammed should look for another target and
leave Mr. President alone. His fatuous tale does not make any sense. I repeat:
we will like to advise that the APC should just leave the President alone.”
Source: #Punch
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