By Umar Muhammad Puma
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has warned his supporters, volunteers and other well-wishers within the party or out of it not to insult or be rude to any other aspirant or party leader on his behalf.
Speaking at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja yesterday, Buhari also urged his supporters not to engage in any kind of behavior or conduct that will tarnish the image of any leader or promote division and rancour within the ranks of the party.
He said whoever engages in violence should know he or she is working for the enemy, and appeal to them to be good ambassadors of the opposition and ensure the success of the party in the next month general elections.
“As a body, the opposition is committed to the rule of law; and as members of the parties in the opposition, you must learn to do the same at all times. In particular, you must learn to be vigilant especially just before, during and immediately after elections, whether these are rigged or not, so that sponsored hoodlums are not made to commit illegalities that are in the end blamed on you.
“Not only must you not take the law into your hands, no matter the level of provocation, you must be able to expose those planning to do so before they act.”
“I know it is all too painful for you to see votes you cast being disregarded and votes illegally thumb printed being counted to rig out the choice that you have legitimately and conclusively made. And it is even more painful when you know that the road to remedy has been firmly shut in your face; for, you are always called on to accept a judgment whose justice you cannot see, whose logic is flawed and whose facts speak against itself.”
“All the same, I urge you to take to patience. I wish to assure you that the leadership of the opposition is not unmindful of this sad and frustrating situation, and has accordingly put in place a mechanism that will permanently put an end to rigging in this country.”
Some angry youth had on Saturday attacked and set ablaze a campaign bus branded with President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign posters at Zololo junction, Bauchi road in Jos, Jos North local government area of Plateau State.
The 2015 National Presidential Campaign Council has Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the Director General with terms of references including; giving a sense of participation and belonging to major stakeholders and engenders widespread support for the project.
Also the body would act as a buffer between the campaign organization and the Presidential candidate and Vice Presidential candidate.
