Ebun Francis|
A national leader of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that that at no time did President Muhammadu Buhari order security agencies to shoot law abiding Nigerians during the party’s caucus meeting in Abuja on Monday.
The President had on Monday at the APC’s caucus meeting in Abuja warned trouble makers to stay away from the polls next Saturday as they will be dealt with by security agencies.
The President’s comment has, however, generated controversial reactions from the public with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the President of ordering the killing of Nigerians.
Tinubu while addressing media men at the end of Monday’s meeting, said Buhari’s directive is only directed at those who are bent on causing trouble during the elections.
Tinubu said, “I was in that meeting; the president was just reinforcing the fact that if you are out there snatching ballot boxes, and causing destruction, you are at risk of your own life.”
“Whatever happens to you; no president will give an order that his own citizens should be shot summarily. No! No, it’s okay, emotions are running high these days. Any individual including myself can be misinterpreted.
“These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens, that he is in that office to protect.
“Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Boko Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election, did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily? If he has gone through that in the last five years, please give a benefit of the doubt.”
On campaigning ahead of the elections given INEC’s stance, he said, “By law, we should continue to energise our people; it depends on our resources. Because the Electoral Act allows us to that, and ask led us to stop campaigning only 24 hours before the actual election.”
“And once you have change the date to February 23, you have given us the opening to campaign and energise. If you have a garden and you don’t nourish with water, the grass will remain dormant; we don’t want our party to remain dormant.
“This is ability of leadership to convert adversity to opportunity and prosperity and that’s it; that’s what we must do.”
On if the postponement cast doubt on the credibility of INEC, Tinubu said, “It depends on how it is handled and the process. How the process is managed; you can convert in crisis–a situation of adversity to an opportunity and progress
“The INEC, under the law, they are empowered to postpone, cancel and do whatever is necessary to ensure free and fair election. No party no matter the anger, the disappointment, no party can reverse that. So, we are ready for February 23.”
Leave a Reply