I laughed with amazement, when I read the statement credited to the Nigeria's opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of sponsoring the attacks on its flag bearer, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi states as part of its plan to “demonise the opposition” and force a postponement of next month’s general elections.
I see this statement of the APC with respect, as a most unreasonable way of criticising its opponent.
Imagine the impetus with which National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed argued in a statement in Lagos that, "The coordinated hysterical reactions to the attacks by the Presidency, Senate President David Mark and the leadership of the Ijaw nation, had exposed the sponsors of the attacks.
"Those who had raised their voices in condemning the attacks should direct their anger at the PDP which hired the hoodlums, who attacked the President in Katsina and Bauchi and gave them brooms in a bid to make them look like APC supporters.
"Information is now in the public domain that these attacks were self inflicted, with the aim of demonising the APC and instigating retaliatory attacks in the southern states, thus precipitating chaos, which the PDP and the Presidency will then use as an excuse for the postponement of the elections.
"Apparently, they did not envisage that the information about their complicity over the attacks will leak to the public. It is common knowledge that the security around the President is such that no hoodlum can come close enough to pelt him with stones."
Mohammed further stated that the Presidency distorted facts when it accused the APC of breaching the Abuja peace accord that was signed by the presidential candidates of the various political parties, positing that the PDP and “its band of thugs” did not allow the ink, with which the agreement was signed to dry, before they started breaching it.
The APC image maker said, "The second attack on our offices in Rivers took place after the pact was signed, just like the serial attacks on our supporters in Sokoto, organised by a PDP stalwart in the city and aided and abetted by the police.
"The death-wish-for-Buhari advert by the incautious Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in the name of President Jonathan, which could have triggered unimaginable violence if not properly managed by the APC, also breached the agreement.
"Where was the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, when all these breaches were taking place? Not once did he issue a statement to say ‘this nonsense must stop’.
"Where was the Senate President, David Mark, when these breaches were taking place? He was never on record as condemning the attacks on the APC offices and its supporters or the irresponsible and downright repugnant advert by Governor Fayose.
"Are those in the opposition not Nigerians, who also deserve the care and attention of the nation’s number three citizen?’
"Mr Senate President, sir, if any party is guilty of ‘despicable desperation’ as you claimed, it is your party, the PDP. Which party has been using all the cheap tricks in the books to postpone the elections at all cost? Which party has been sponsoring attacks against itself to demonise the opposition and force a postponement of next month’s election? Which party has deviated from issues and become fixated on the person of the APC presidential candidate, savaging and lying against him at every point?
"Mr. Senate President, remember the saying that he who must come to equity must come with clean hands.”
Regardless of the hot exchange of words between the PDP and the APC as a result of their quest for power, the intelligence of right thinking Nigerians must not be toyed with.
Both political parties, should at best be constructive in their criticism of each other.
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