A pro-democracy and good governance group, the Wailing Wailers, has called on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Chief Odigie Oyegun and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State to stop making inciting members of their party to engage in violence.
Oyegun and Ganduje had at a Mega Rally of the APC in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers state capital yesterday reportedly told APC supporters to slap back opponents when slapped and shoot back at rivals if challenged to gun duel.
The Wailing Wailers in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Usman Abubakar said: “Our attention has been drawn to the inciting statement credited to the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Odigie Oyegun and the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, which has been reconfirmed.
“The statements, which they both made at the APC rally today, in the run down to the Rivers rerun, reads: “‘If they push you, push them back. If they slap you, slap them back” “As you can see, we came in force. The whole federal might is here”-~Odigie Oyegun, PC National Chairman. “‘If they shoot at you, take cover and shoot them back’-Gov. Ganduje, Kano State.
“We are wondering, at what point did election become arm conflict or war in Nigeria? These dangerous and inciting statements by the Chairman of APC and Kano State Governor, must be condemned by Mr President. If this statement is not condemned by President Buhari, it then means that APC has a plot to set Nigeria on fire.
“Elections has been so peaceful, free and fair until APC took over powers, and ripped the electorates their power to freely choose who they want to govern them. Since then, elections have become a do or die affair with the APC. This is sad, we are also aware that all these are preparations to test ground for 2019.
“If Oyegun and Ganduje are responsible people who love Nigeria above any selfish political interest, and also willing to lay a good foundation for the youths and incoming generation to follow, they should be working round the clock on how to ensure that Nigeria get out of the present economic doldrums their party has brought upon Nigeria. They should not be in Rivers to brag about Federal might or to intimidate, induce voters and also incite violence.
“We condemn in strong terms the statements and demand that the duo of APC National Chairman and Ganduje who left all the way from Kano state to incite violence in Rivers State, to tender an apology to Nigerians.
“We call on all Riverians to shun and not mind Oyegun and Ganduje call for violence, if you allow them to set your state on fire, they will not take part or bear the consequences with you. We therefore warn the violence promoters to desist from such acts and call for a peaceful election.”
