PDP challenges APC on moral rectitude

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has challenged the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) at the national level to live up to its self-acclaimed moral ground standing by issuing a statement that will condemn the alleged open call for murder of its members by its candidate in the November 21 Governorship polls, Abubakar Audu.

The Publicity Secretary of the party Bode Ogunmola in a news conference at its former secretariat in Lokoja yesterday accused the APC candidate of openly inciting it’s members to unleash mayhem during the election on PDP members who he labelled as thugs.

He observed that unfortunately for Audu Nigeria is a society, which is ran by law that is not a respecter of any person.

“His open call for murder is criminal and we are calling on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute this man. We don’t accept the excuse that it is all politics as the precious lives of our members that have been lost cannot be reduced to politics.”

He asked rhetorically that many had been killed already, how many more before the law is allowed to take its course?

“We are equally calling on the APC hierarchy which is the ruling party today whose duty it is to give the security to lives and property to all Nigerians to show concern.”

He said that why Audu’s incitement was wearisome to them was more so because the November 21st 2015 election was at the corner.

“Is it possible that Audu’s murderous eruption is latently being endorsed by the APC? Only an open condemnation of Audu’s call for mass murder by the ruling party can reassure us that this election would not be won by some other means.”

Ogunmola indicated that the APC candidate had resorted to incitement, hate speeches and violence as a fulcrum of his campaign.

He said that it was even most disturbing that this gospel of violence was coming from the candidate of the party who was a two times governor of the state and a contestant at every gubernatorial election since the creation of Kogi State 24 years ago.

“In the two rallies held by the APC so far, Audu mounted the rostrum to charge APC supporters to kill those he branded as PDP thugs. The first was at the demonstration Primary School ground in Kabba on Saturday October 3rd while the most recent one was few days ago in Okene.

He said that the PDP was really horrified that a two time governor of the state would urge young men of the same state he desperately wanted to rule to murder his fellow citizens in the state.

“More than the horror we fear, this open incitement to murder has exposed Audu of who and what he is and has provided an answer to the several unresolved murder of PDP supporters in Kogi State who were mauled down in cold blood during electioneering campaigns involving Audu in several political parties he has traversed.

He alleged further that there were several instances of alleged execution and murder of PDP supporters at electioneering season by Abubakar Audu, which were yet to be unravelled by security agencies.

“Now the man has come out openly to called for summary execution of PDP ward canvassers he has branded as thugs. In the last four years of Governor Idris Wada political thuggery has been eradicated.

“Who are the thugs Audu is condemning to death by asking APC members to summarily execute? “

Ogunmola said that he had no regards for the lost of lives of anybody particularly when he would gain an advantage for the lost of such lives. He added that it was the clear manifestation of his psyche that was displayed on the rostrum in Kabba and Okene.

The secretary, however, observed that they in the PDP were very excited that the season offers them a rear privilege to give account of the tenure of Governor Captain Idris Ichalla Wada and to showcase his superlative achievements in the years under review despite the daunting challenges of seriously reduced resources.

“It also affords us the opportunity to unfold our programmes for the people of the state for the next tenure. These we are resolved to do responsibly and under the confines of the law regulating electioneering campaigns in our country.”

The APC candidate Abubakar Audu in a telephone interview debunked the allegation saying as a statesman he could not descend to that level.

Audu said that as one of the foremost senior citizens of the state it was his duty to protect the lives and property of citizens of the state.

In another statement signed by the Director of Media, Abubakar Audu Campaign Organisation Dr. Tom Ohikere, the APC flagbearer indicated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the relevant security agents had put arrangement in place to protect electorates on the day of election.

He admonished all qualified registered voters to come out en masse on the day of election assuring them that the security operatives were capable of handling all miscreants and those whose interest would be to disrupt peaceful process of the exercise.