FANI KAYODE: LAMBASTING OBA OF LAGOS

This is a statement issued today by spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Femi Fani-Kayode, reacting to the allegation made against the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu that the Igbos in Lagos should vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwunmi Ambode or face the consequence of dying inside the lagoon.

It reads: "The Oba of Lagos’ threat against the igbos in Lagos that if they do not vote for the APC in the governorship elections on saturday they should be ready for the consequences and that if they don’t vote for Ambode they should be ready to perish in the lagoon is ominous and unacceptable.

"The truth is that we were threatened with ethnic cleansing and religious carnage in the north had Buhari not won the election on March 28th and had Jonathan not quickly conceded defeat and now our traditional supporters are being threatened in Lagos and in many other states.

"Let two things be clearly understood. In as much as we all want peace in this country and in as much as Jonathan has graciously and quickly conceded defeat in the Presidential election, this does not mean that we are weak or powerless.

"Let it be clearly understood by all and sundry that any attempt to kill or molest our supporters in the north, in the west or indeed in any other part of the country either before, during or after saturday’s governorship elections or any attempt at ethnic or religious cleansing by the APC, their supporters or their friends and agents will be deemed unacceptable and will be met with defiance, contempt and resistance.

"Enough of all these APC threats and all this rubbish. No-one is intimidated on our side and neither do we fear for the future because God is with us, He is faithful and He is in control.

"We want peace and we want harmony in this country but no-one or no group of people will be allowed to turn us or our supporters into slaves or give us sleepless nights.

"The APC would do well to remember that they only won the presidential election by 2 million votes. The PDP got 12 million votes in that election which means that we have 12 million loyal foot soldiers and supporters in this country and that is no mean feat.

"We are a strong party, we are confident for the future, we are ready for anything and most important of all we are ready for the polls on saturday. We take this opportunity to urge the PDP faithful in Lagos to go out and vote en masse for the PDP.

"We urge them to vote for Jimi Agbaje and to free Lagos state from the shackles of darkness and oppression. We urge them to stand firm, to hold their heads up high and to do their very best.

"We urge our supporters in Rivers state, Oyo state, Imo state, Plateau state, Kaduna state and indeed in all the states where elections will take place on saturday to do the same, to take the destiny of their respective states into their hands and to vote for the PDP candidates in the various elections.

"What happened during the presidential election on March 28th was sad and unfortunate but we have accepted defeat and we wholeheartedly accept the will of the people of Nigeria.

"That does not however mean that we should close shop and not put up a good fight for saturdays governorship elections. This is the time to call on the party faithful to rise up.

"This is the time to rally our troops and to call on our footsoldiers and loyalists to come out in their millions and wipe away the sadness of march 28th by winning massively in saturdays governorship elections.

"This is the time to prove to our detractors that despite their provocative utterances, their empty and boastful threats, their mocking words and their gratutious insults that the PDP is far from dead and is still very much alive.

"Our party shall go from strength to strength despite the monumental challenges that lie ahead. Whether we win or lose on saturday is not the issue.

"The issue is that whatever anyone may say and whatever they may feel, the PDP is not going anywhere and neither shall we crumble and fade away. We are here for the long haul: we are here to stay."

Photo credit: ynaija