Govt, PDP can’t buy Nigerians at polls, says Kwankwaso

IN continuation of the mudslinging that has essentially characterized party preparations for the forthcoming general elections, Governor of Kano State, Musa Kwankwaso, has warned the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that money cannot buy the “conscience of Nigerians” at the polls.

   Apparently referring to his All Progressives Congress’ (APC) claim that the Federal Government and the PDP have doled out money to buy sympathy from Nigerian voters, he said the citizens would drive the ruling party out of the Presidential Villa over its failures. 

   According to him, he APC has better policies and programmes to move the nation forward. Kwankwaso, who spoke to newsmen at the Kano Government House on Sunday, said “the PDP can use all the money in the treasury to bribe whoever they want, but God the Almighty has His own way of doing things.”

   He urged Nigerians to always remember that “power belongs to Almighty Allah, not those with money or who control security agencies.”

   Kwankwaso further dismissed the allegation that the party’s presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has health challenges, stating that Buhari is healthier than the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

   “I do not think those guys were right, as a sick man can never dare embark on such rigorous exercise as Buhari did within the last few months,” he said. “That’s against my judgment on what I have practically seen.

   “I am not a medical doctor and have also not seen his medical history, so I cannot talk about his record but can talk of his performance within the last few months.”

   He added that since they ended the presidential rally, Buhari has been sound, hale and fit to rule the country, emphasizing: “He is healthier than the incumbent occupier of the seat because he went to all the states on campaigns in addition to other engagements that come in between.

   “We toured the nooks and crannies of the states, as well as observed the mood of the states during the visit. I was together with him, alongside other party stakeholders up to 6.00 in the evening on the same day. All those who participated in the campaign were exhausted.”

Anti-Buhari campaign a diversion from audio tape leak

Meanwhile, the APC in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of the PDP of diverting the attention of Nigerians from his alleged fraudulent victory as revealed in a controversial audiotape leak.

   It said the revelations in the tape would not be eclipsed by his anti-Buhari campaign antics, urging the governor to channel the money being spent in his hate campaign towards productive activities for the benefit of Ekiti people.

   The party also accused the governor of lack of focus on development issues, stating that for the past four months, he had busied himself with the state’s debt profile while not forthcoming on the balances and refunds made to the state by the Federal Government. 

   In a statement, the state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said that what Fayose was doing was the usual fraudulent antics associated with his administration‎ to whip up public sentiments against real issues of development and transparent management of state resources.

   According to him, the audio leak will not be wished away without those who perpetrated electoral fraud facing the full wrath of the law.‎ Olatubosun added: “He knows with (Major) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as president, that will be the end of impunity and fraud through which he was declared governor. 

   “He knows he can’t survive the revelations contained in the tape when Buhari becomes president, that is why he wants Buhari dead.”

   The party warned Fayose against wasting the state’s resources on anti-Buhari campaign, including hiring agents trailing Buhari around the world, saying‎ that it is criminal to spend the state’s resources in furtherance of personal ambition and safety.

 “Governor Fayose is taking his hate campaign against Buhari to the level of personal agenda far and above the collective agenda of Ekiti people for good governance and development of the state. 

“If Fayose had taken the issue of development seriously as he is doing in his hate campaign, the effects could have been felt in many areas that are germane to ‎the state’s development.”

   He claimed that the governor’s desperation to ‎get at Buhari led him into the hands of fraudsters in London, who deceived him with Buhari’s photographs taken at a private home that has nothing to do with a hospital.