The Goodluck Presidential Council has issued a bizarre press statement asking that one of his main challengers, Muhammad Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), be held responsible for the bomb blast that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party’s rally in Suleja, Niger State, on Thursday. At least 10 people died in the incident.
The press statement was issued by the Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) and signed by Mike Omeri, its Director of Research and Strategy. But fearing public backlash regarding the press release, the PCC recalled the statement from some media outlets.
When SaharaReporters got in touch with Mr. Omeri, he denied knowledge of the statement. But Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Buhari campaign, said journalists have inundated him with questions regarding the contents of the press release. He described the action of the PCC as unfortunate.
The Jonathan campaign has a history of lying about controversial documents circulated by its operatives. His office has also routinely lied about its actions.
For instance, the office of the president denied that any of its operatives sent text messages to detained MEND leader, Henry Okah, after the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja in which Okah was asked to “blame it on northern elements.” SaharaReporters later fished out the telephone numbers used in that act, the name of the operative involvedn as well as the exact message
Also, when Pastor Tunde Bakare led an SNG delegation to visit the president, he bribed the group with $50,000 but the group rejected the money. The office of the president and the minister –Godsday Orubebe-who handed over the bribe denied the act in several press statements until SaharaReporters confirmed that the group was indeed bribed by Jonathan by obtaining a voice recording of the fiery pastor. He is now Buhari’s running mate.
Recently, also, Reporters revealed a document authored by Mr. Omeri detailing how Mr. Jonathan intended to rig the PDP primaries in detail. The Jonathan’s campaign also characteristically denied that document.
A political analyst who reviewed the Jonathan blame statement told SaharaReporters it was of extreme interest not only that the Jonathan team prepared the statement, but also hurriedly withdrew it from general circulation. “Jonathan is obviously feeling the heat from Buhari although Buhari has been campaigning only for a few days,” he said. “We must strap on our seat belts.”
FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT
Hold Buhari responsible for the violence’
The Goodluck Presidential Council (PCC) has placed the violence and the consequent bomb blast at Suleja, Niger state at the doorstep of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Presidential Candidate General Mohammadu Buhari.
The PCC noted with dismay that Buhari only on Wednesday in Kaduna instigated his supporters to take the law into their hands against any perceived opponent during the elections.
The campaign organisation stressed that democracy gives everyone opportunity to participate in governance but a resort to violence as a means of achieving what they cannot achieve democratically, is absurd
The PCC therefore sympathised with the government and people of Niger State and urged Nigerians to reject pretenders who do not have democratic credentials.
Even when the appropriate authority candidly advised Buhari and his group to stay away from Niger State on account of inappropriate timing, they went ahead to execute their illicit agenda during which many innocent Nigerians lost their lives.
We are saddened by this show of raw force. This is not what our people deserved now. They rightly deserve democracy but not democracy that is laced with bullet and bombs.
We condemn this in the strongest of terms and we urged Nigerians to rise up against this harbingers of death and sorrow. Democracy gives everybody right and freedom of expression. It gives all the opportunity to participate, to vote and be voted for, but certainly not the right cause harm or take the life of another
By now, Nigerians should know who the real enemies of democracy really are. They know those who have the credential of brute force and they do know those who have the capacity to truncate democracy.
This event should be a wake up call to all Nigerians to watch those who pretend to be leaders even if the people continue to reject them
The press statement was issued by the Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) and signed by Mike Omeri, its Director of Research and Strategy. But fearing public backlash regarding the press release, the PCC recalled the statement from some media outlets.
When SaharaReporters got in touch with Mr. Omeri, he denied knowledge of the statement. But Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Buhari campaign, said journalists have inundated him with questions regarding the contents of the press release. He described the action of the PCC as unfortunate.
The Jonathan campaign has a history of lying about controversial documents circulated by its operatives. His office has also routinely lied about its actions.
For instance, the office of the president denied that any of its operatives sent text messages to detained MEND leader, Henry Okah, after the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja in which Okah was asked to “blame it on northern elements.” SaharaReporters later fished out the telephone numbers used in that act, the name of the operative involvedn as well as the exact message
Also, when Pastor Tunde Bakare led an SNG delegation to visit the president, he bribed the group with $50,000 but the group rejected the money. The office of the president and the minister –Godsday Orubebe-who handed over the bribe denied the act in several press statements until SaharaReporters confirmed that the group was indeed bribed by Jonathan by obtaining a voice recording of the fiery pastor. He is now Buhari’s running mate.
Recently, also, Reporters revealed a document authored by Mr. Omeri detailing how Mr. Jonathan intended to rig the PDP primaries in detail. The Jonathan’s campaign also characteristically denied that document.
A political analyst who reviewed the Jonathan blame statement told SaharaReporters it was of extreme interest not only that the Jonathan team prepared the statement, but also hurriedly withdrew it from general circulation. “Jonathan is obviously feeling the heat from Buhari although Buhari has been campaigning only for a few days,” he said. “We must strap on our seat belts.”
FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT
Hold Buhari responsible for the violence’
The Goodluck Presidential Council (PCC) has placed the violence and the consequent bomb blast at Suleja, Niger state at the doorstep of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Presidential Candidate General Mohammadu Buhari.
The PCC noted with dismay that Buhari only on Wednesday in Kaduna instigated his supporters to take the law into their hands against any perceived opponent during the elections.
The campaign organisation stressed that democracy gives everyone opportunity to participate in governance but a resort to violence as a means of achieving what they cannot achieve democratically, is absurd
The PCC therefore sympathised with the government and people of Niger State and urged Nigerians to reject pretenders who do not have democratic credentials.
Even when the appropriate authority candidly advised Buhari and his group to stay away from Niger State on account of inappropriate timing, they went ahead to execute their illicit agenda during which many innocent Nigerians lost their lives.
We are saddened by this show of raw force. This is not what our people deserved now. They rightly deserve democracy but not democracy that is laced with bullet and bombs.
We condemn this in the strongest of terms and we urged Nigerians to rise up against this harbingers of death and sorrow. Democracy gives everybody right and freedom of expression. It gives all the opportunity to participate, to vote and be voted for, but certainly not the right cause harm or take the life of another
By now, Nigerians should know who the real enemies of democracy really are. They know those who have the credential of brute force and they do know those who have the capacity to truncate democracy.
This event should be a wake up call to all Nigerians to watch those who pretend to be leaders even if the people continue to reject them