Jonathan’s Campaign Team Blames APC, Buhari Over Katsina Attack

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation have accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of allegedly masterminding the attack on President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State on Tuesday.

Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, while addressing journalists yesterday, described the action of the APC supporters at Buhari’s home state as despicable, barbaric, shameful and highly reprehensible. He warned that Buhari would be held responsible if anything untoward happened to Jonathan.

“Let us take this opportunity to also serve them notice that if anything untoward happens to our candidate or his supporters during the course of this campaign we shall hold Buhari and his party responsible and the consequences would be grave, unimaginable and far-reaching.

“Meanwhile, we call on our millions of supporters all over the country to remain calm and not to indulge in any form of violence or revenge attacks despite this massive and unwarranted provocation.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), while going to Katsina for his scheduled rally, a group of broom-wielding vandals, chanting ‘sai Buhari’, hurled stones at the convoy of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who, as you all know, is our presidential candidate in the February 14 election.

“We consider that action despicable, barbaric, shameful and highly reprehensible. It shows very clearly the violent nature, disposition and character of those individuals that were involved and the presidential candidate that they support.

“The Katsina show of shame was the first case of violence unleashed on our candidate by supporters of the candidate of the APC, General Buhari, after the signing of the historic Abuja Accord by the presidential candidates of all the parties participating in the election. The purpose of that accord was to discourage violence before, during and after the elections.

“The laudable intention of the accord has now been irresponsibly violated by a group of miscreants and vandals whose leader has proved to be wholly incapable of keeping them in check and restraining them from indulging in violence. It is worrisome that this kind of violent reaction would manifest when the election has not held and their candidate has not yet lost,” Fani-Kayode said.

He however boasted that Buhari and his party would be defeated at the polls next month. “We are taking this opportunity to serve notice today that by the grace of God and the support of the well-meaning Nigerian electorate, General Buhari will suffer a crushing defeat in the hands of our candidate, President Jonathan, at the polls.

“When we remember the post-election violence of 2011 after this same candidate lost, you must appreciate the reason why we are raising these concerns.

“Were it not for the gallant efforts of the security personnel, this small group of violent vandals would have harmed the President and caused damage to the vehicles in his convoy.

“It is pertinent for us to point out the fact that our candidate, our party and our numerous supporters have so far behaved reasonably and responsibly during the course of this campaign and the world can attest to this with the peaceful rally that General Buhari had in Bayelsa State, the home state of our candidate.”