President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday dismissed claim by the All Progressives Congress that his Thursday’s visit to Lagos was to coordinate rigging plans for the Peoples Democratic Party in today’s governorship election.He wondered why he would rig the governorship election for the PDP when he did not rig the March 28 presidential election in which he was a candidate.Jonathan’s position was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Abati said there was nothing unusual in people paying homage to the President when he is on a visit to Lagos or any other part of the country.
He said the APC spokesman lied as usual and was rude to insinuate that Jonathan met with people in Lagos for the purpose of rigging the poll.
Abati said Muhammed and his paymasters were only cooking up meaningless tales in order to change the commendation Jonathan had received across the globe for conceding defeat in the presidential election.
He said, “Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that the President came to Lagos to rig the governorship and House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, April 11. He is of course lying as usual.
“President Jonathan visited Lagos. He arrived on Thursday and left on
Friday. People visited him. So what? Anytime the President is in Lagos
or any part of the country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him.
“Nothing unusual happened during his last visit to Lagos. Senator
Musiliu Obanikoro’s visit to the President in Lagos is not something
that anybody should use to play politics. Obanikoro is a Minister of the
Federal Republic. He came to see his boss.
“Mr. Jimi Agbaje is the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos
State. I don’t see how his visit to the President, who is also the
leader of his party, should become an issue.
“President
Jonathan’s sportsmanship, statesmanship and leadership saved this
country at that critical moment. He has demonstrated his commitment to
free and fair election, the rule of law and due process. He has shown
that he is a man of character, honour and integrity. Nigerians generally
are proud of him.
“He
has left a worthy legacy and shown a great example. That, obviously, is
the narrative that Lai Muhammed and his masters want to change, so they
are now cooking up meaningless tales.
“Lai Muhammed should look for another target and leave the President
alone. His fatuous tale does not make any sense. I repeat: we will like
to advise that the APC should just leave the President alone.”
source:Punch
