APC Justifies Holding Ekiti Political Rally After Jos Bomb Blast

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday justified its political rally in Ekiti State, saying the decision to hold the rally was compelled by exigencies of time.

The party, which reacted to accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of not postponing its campaign in honour of the victims of Jos twin bombings, told the PDP to stop playing politics with the lives of Nigerians, describing it as wrong, irresponsible and uncharitable to seek to make political gains out of the worsening and deadly terror attacks in the country.

In a statement issued in Gusau, Zamfara State yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Nigerians are too discerning to be hoodwinked by PDP’s ceaseless finger-pointing and name calling, as exhibited by the party’s overly-exuberant and rarely-introspecting spokesman.

“We were left with no choice than to proceed with the rally in view of the suddenness of the Jos twin bombings and the fact that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot be prevailed upon to change the timetable of the Ekiti polls, made it as somber as possible under the circumstances.

It said Nigerians who watched the live telecast of the APC rally in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday saw how the party, left with no choice than to proceed with the rally in view of the suddenness of the Jos twin bombings and the fact that (INEC) cannot be prevailed upon to change the timetable of the Ekiti polls, made it as somber as possible under the circumstances.

‘’Despite the presence of musical groups and other performers, all musical breaks in the programme and all other scheduled performances were cut out, while the rally itself was drastically abridged. There is no doubt that the PDP’s spokesman did not even bother to get the full details of the rally before rushing to the media in his usual jumpy self.

‘’Mr. Olisah Metuh is definitely eager to act like an opposition spokesman rather than the spokesman for the ruling party. This is not a problem as his party is definitely fighting hard to trade places with the APC as the main opposition party come 2015. We can only appeal to Mr. Metuh to wait for a few more months and, in the meantime, start learning the ropes as an opposition spokesman,’’ APC said.

The party reminded the PDP that the Ekiti rally was not the same as the illegal rally in Kano, where President Goodluck Jonathan led other PDP leaders to engage in Azonto dance less than 24 hours after 75 of his compatriots were killed in the first Nyanya bombing.

It also said the Ekiti rally cannot be equated with the failure of leadership, the cluelessness and the callousness exhibited by PDP leaders, including President Jonathan and Mrs. Kema Chikwe, in the aftermath of the abduction of school girls in Chibok; or the fact that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces is so afraid of a band of terrorists that he has failed to live up to his presidential billing by visiting Chibok.

‘Reacting to the justification, the PDP said the leaders of the APC wanted to unleash their personal frustrations on Nigerians, stating that they should note that Nigerians are peaceful and loving people.
The PDP said: “We will remain one nation and Nigerians will continue to go with the PDP irrespective of the lies and propaganda unleashed by the APC.

“No matter the antics of the APC, the PDP will remain on top and we will win the 2015 general election. The election is not going to be conducted in the media. It is not going to be based on how many insults you hauled at your opponents. It is all about people who are peaceful and loving and have the best agenda for Nigeria.

“We want the APC to provide Nigerians with answers to our questions. Why is it that the APC, which was down and out only recovered their voice and boisterous selves after the recent bombings and the attacks? Is it violence that propels them as a party? Is there any link between the attacks and the propensity of the APC to dance naked in the public with their statements?

“One thing is clear. The APC cannot intimidate the government. They cannot intimidate the PDP and they cannot intimidate Nigerians,” the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh said.