The All Progresives Congress (APC) said Thursday that its leadership and members were being intimidated by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in the run-up to next month’s general elections.
The party said the recent military siege on APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ residence and the Imo State Government House and the police harassment of APC’s Presidential Campaign Spokesman Garba Shehu fit perfectly into this emerging pattern.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in Lagos, that no amount of such antics of the administration would cow its members in its resolve to effect a change in leadership through the ballot box. He said, ”As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman Chief John Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, former Gov. Timipre Sylva, Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones being hacked.
”We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges. We know our lives are in danger. But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box.
”Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute.”
While thanking Nigerians for their unflinching support for the party, especially since the postponement of the elections which was aimed at dampening the enthusiasm of the citizens, he urged them not to relent.
The spokesman said further, ”We are glad that instead of weakening the resolve and enthusiasm of Nigerians, the Presidency-orchestated postponement has further galvanized them to be more determined not only to vote but also to defend their votes.
”Nigerians must demand and insist that the elections be held as rescheduled, that there will be no interim government or tenure elongation. Nigerians have the power to forge change with their voter’s cards and no one must deny them that right.”
He called on President Jonathan to remember the verdict of history and put his dogs of war on a leash, realizing that history will judge no one but him even for the actions of his supporters.
