The presidential campaign organisation of President Goodluck Jonathan has come out to condemn the actions of supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate – Muhammadu Buhari – who attacked the presidential motorcade during a campaign visit to Katsina, the home state of the former Head of State on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
The Organisation has also addressed the issue of Buhari’s certificate, which he (Buhari) defended via a press statement on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
Both issues were addressed by a press statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode and dated Wedenesday, January 21, 2015.
Fani-Kayode, who is a former Minister of Aviation advised the APC and Buhari to call their supporters to order considering the fact that a peace accord was signed a few days back.
On the issue of Buhari’s certificate, Fani-Kayode, while quoting Buhari’s speech, said amongst other things, that the military should strip him of his military.
The statement read: <em>“Yesterday, while going to Katsina for his scheduled rally, a group of broom-wielding vandals, chanting “sai Buhari”, hurled stones at the convoy of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who, as you all know, is our presidential candidate in theFebruary 14 election</em>.
“We consider that action despicable, barbaric, shameful and highly reprehensible. It shows very clearly the violent nature, disposition and character of those individuals that were involved and the presidential candidate that they support.
“The Katsina show of shame was the first case of violence unleashed on our candidate by supporters of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, after the signing of the historic Abuja Accord by the presidential candidates of all the parties participating in the election.
“The purpose of that Accord was to discourage violence before, during and after the election. The laudable intention of the Accord has now been irresponsibly violated by a group of miscreants and vandals whose leader has proved to be wholly incapable of keeping them in check and restraining them from indulging in violence.
“It is worrisome that this kind of violent reaction would manifest when the election has not held and their candidate has not yet lost.
“We are taking this opportunity to serve notice today that by the grace of God and the support of the well-meaning Nigerian electorate, General Buhari will suffer a crushing defeat in the hands of our candidate, President Jonathan, at the polls.
“When we remember the post-election violence of 2011 after this same candidate lost, you must appreciate the reason why we are raising these concerns. We are indeed appalled that the APC and its presidential candidate would allow their supporters, in his (General Buhari’s) home state, to go berserk with the clear intention to harm the President and those who travelled with him. Were it not for the gallant efforts of the security personnel, this small group of violent vandals would have harmed the President and caused damage to the vehicles in his convoy.
“It is pertinent for us to point out the fact that our candidate, our party and our numerous supporters have so far behaved reasonably and responsibly during the course of this campaign and the world can attest to this with the peaceful rally that General Buhari had in Bayelsa State, the home state of our candidate. Why couldn’t General Buhari prove his commitment to the Abuja Accord by ensuring that his supporters did the same thing and did not indulge in vandalism, threats and violence?
“We wish to state clearly and categorically that the behaviour of Buhari and his supporters is unacceptable and that it must cease forthwith. Let us take this opportunity to also serve them notice that if anything untoward happens to our candidate or his supporters during the course of this campaign we shall hold Buhari and his party responsible and the consequences would be grave, And unimaginable and far-reaching.
“Meanwhile we call on our millions of supporters all over the country to remain calm and not to indulge in any form of violence or revenge attacks despite this massive and unwarranted provocation. AND BUHARI LIES ON OATH!
“Information reaching us now has shown that the Presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed today in Kano at a press conference that the affidavit he swore to in which he claimed that his credentials were in the custody of the military was not true after all.
“His words, “I had assumed all along that all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army. Much to my surprise, we are now told that although a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificates in my personal file. This is why I formally requested my old school the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina [which is now known as Government College, Katsina] to make available the school’s copy of the result of the Cambridge/West African School Certificate.This will be made available to the press the moment this is available”.
“The implication of the action of this so-called “Mr Clean” is nothing but perjury and we all know that this is a grave criminal offence under our laws and constitution.
“We urge Buhari and his party to do the right thing and tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian people, throw in the towel and report to the nearest police station for interrogation and prosecution. Anything less than that would be an insult to the collective intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian people.
“We also urge the Nigerian Armed Forces to consider the possibility of stripping him of his rank and privileges given the fact that he was never qualified to join the Nigerian army as a commissioned officer in the first place because he never had the prerequisite qualifications which was a school certificate. Given this, at best Buhari should never have been anything more than a non-commissioned officer”
