My Lagos visit not to rig elections for Jimi Agbaje - Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday faulted a claim by the All Progressives Congress that his Thursday visit to Lagos was to coordinate rigging plans for the Peoples Democratic Party in the Saturday 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 insisted that 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 elections.
The presidential spokesman 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 State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, April 11. He is of course lying as usual. And rude.
“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. Koro 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. I don’t see how his visit to the President, who is also the leader of his party, the PDP, should become an issue.
“Yes, Gani Adams also visited, but so did a lot of other people.”
Abati added that the President did not hold meetings with INEC officials, neither did he meet with the police, polling officials or with anybody who is involved in organising elections.
He said to claim that the President went to Lagos to supervise the rigging of Saturday’s election was most uncharitable and cruel.
“After the presidential election, the President immediately congratulated Gen. Buhari and the whole world has commended him for saving Nigeria.
“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.
“President Jonathan was a candidate in the presidential election; he did not rig the election. Why would he want to rig tomorrow’s elections? he added.
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If GEJ 's visit to Lagos was to make arrangements to rig Saturday elections, wat about that. Has APC nt b rigging elections, if GEJ wishes to deliver his candidate dat ll b great but if he doesn't na him Mumu
ReplyDeleteAbati has failed to give the reasons for Mr. President's visit which gave room for speculations. The question is why sneak into Lagos at night for an undisclosed meeting with individuals under watch?
ReplyDeleteAPC looks more to be like a bunch of radicals. Well I voted for them because of GEJs poor handling of Blkoharam but overall I see the political radicalism in APC as scary and I hope it's not a time bomb that will tear the party apart. This is time to strategize and move this country forward. I hope APC performs and stop this blame game. Anybody can visit anywhere for political purposes. I need humility in APC, give Buhari a free hand to work and stop attacking the opposition which PDP has assumed. A stitche in time saves nine. Again Lai Mohamed, let the sleeping dog lie and don't forment trouble!
ReplyDeleteShut up liar! You did not vote for APC.Your party PDP is going to suffer another humiliating defeat. It's a pity the Igbos have chosen the path of failure in this election.
DeleteWhat Mohamed revealed is how they want to rig out PDP
ReplyDeleteSee all these faceless contributors. Why does Nigerian news accept anonymous contributors even
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Faceless people that speak in the dark. In short, they are toothless dog. Bunch of hypocrites. Show you faces if you guys really have guts.
DeleteLet GEJs sit down and watch He should be an adviser not going up n down to ferment perculation abut him to rigs election
ReplyDeleteDennis, you have spoken well. The FOI Bill has been passed and no one needs to hide his/her identity if you are making sensible comment devoid of arrogance and uninformed statements. In order to sanitize this forum, Nigerianeye should consider disclosure of commentator's identity as a pre-requisite for publication of comment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Bashir but you equally don't hide your Identity.
Delete