…As Ologunagba condemns idea of seeing politics as war
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign organization, PCO, has raised the alarm that the party is finding it impossible to install its billboards, paste its posters and use government radio stations in All Progressives Congress, APC, controlled states, especially in Lagos.
The Director of Strategic Communications of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Otunba Dele Momodu raised the alarm while addressing journalists on Friday in Abuja.
The PCC of the PDP has consequently appealed to the federal government to help reverse the trend by calling the said APC controlled states to order because, “that this is not what democracy is all about”.
Otunba Momodu equally appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to help speak to the security agencies, to protect the lives of PDP members and their properties in view of the series of attacks the party had suffered in the course of its presidential campaign rallies in some APC controlled states.
Among the States where PDP had been attacked during its presidential campaign rallies, Momodu cried out, were; Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara and Lagos.
While describing PDP as clearly in the lead in its presidential campaigns, Momodu said, “In practically all APC controlled states, It’s been virtually impossible for us to install our billboards, to paste our posters and use APC government controlled radio stations, especially in Lagos where the candidate of the APC is seen as next to God.
“So, I wish to appeal, through you, to the federal government, since they control the APC, that this is not what democracy is all about.
“I was one of those who fought and suffered for this democracy. We never envisaged that in the civilian regime, we are going to have this kind of harassment, whereby we cannot practice democracy as it should be done.
“In 2014 2015, I was one of those who supported Buhari, and there was never a time that PDP disturbed us because if they had disturbed us, maybe there would have been no Buhari.
“So, we are hoping that Mr President would help us speak to the security agencies, to protect the lives of our people, to protect our properties wherever they are on the soil of Nigeria, because we are all Nigerians.
“People can see the clear difference between His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and the other challengers. It’s very clear that he is the most experienced and the most detribalized. He doesn’t go anywhere discriminating against anyone, he is prepared.
“Nigeria can’t afford another sad experiment or experimentation, because if you are not prepared, that is what will happen. He knows what to do from day one”, the Director of Strategic Communication declared.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba has condemned the belief or notion by some people that politics is war.
Ologunagba, a lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, while addressing journalists on Friday in Abuja, pointed out that what Nigerians want is for the candidates and their parties’ to bring forward their ideas, debate the ideas and let the people decide.
According to Ologunagba, “When someone begins to take politics as war I think is condemnable.
“You will recall only two days ago there is a viral video from the presidential candidate of the APC saying political power is not going to be served in a restaurant, you did not serve it alar carte, you fight for it snatch it, grab it and run with it.
“That is not what Nigerians want, what Nigerians want is for you to bring the ideas, debate the ideas, let the people decide.
“What he (the APC presidential candidate) has done now is to begin to instigate violence and say to his people go ahead grab it by all means.
“You will recall in 2019 in Lagos, it started with a threat if you don’t vote for the APC, we will throw you into the lagoon that is fresh in our memory.
“You recall that the PDP was leading very well in Lagos, during the election after collation when they found out that the PDP has won, they unleashed terror and you recall the pictures are there, the videos are there, evidence are there of systematic attack on certain people from the axis of Ejigbo, Okota down to FESTAC.
“The threat now is activated, again they are telling us that you grab it and run with it, then they ran with those results fraudulently. But the people of Nigeria have now said enough is enough.
“Despite all the shenanigans they did in Osun State, the peoples’ power still prevailed. But as a party we are moving ahead because we have a pact with the Nigerian people”, Ologunagba stated.
