Abuja, Nigeria, 08 March 2015: The APC Presidential Campaign Council has described as felonious, the statement credited to the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation on Sunday, in which questions were raised about the civil war role and commitment to the nation of General Muhammadu Buahri, the presidential candidate of the opposition party.
In a reaction by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, the APC described the PDP statement as amounting to questions about the purpose of the continued being of Nigeria as a single entity.
The statement by the APCPCO signed by the Director of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu described the PDP as questioning the “the continued existence of Nigeria as single entity. This is nothing short of treason. It rocks at the foundation of the oneness of Nigeria, its constitution, its flag and desecrates the blood of fellow citizens who fought on both sides of the war as part of their commitment to one, united nation.”
The APCPCO dismissed the PDP attack on General Buhari’s illustrious war record and inspiring patriotism as “a grim pointer to the desperation by the President to return even if in the process, he causes a permanent damage to the wellbeing and continued existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Garba accused the PDP of riding roughshod over the emotions of the Nigerian peoples, saying that the latest statement shines an unflattering light on the PDP and its government and lends credence to those who accuse the ruling party of having lost interest in the unity of Nigeria.
The APC noted in the statement that the world history has shown us that in the process of the development of any nation challenges bordering on national unity always crop up.
“This is the case with most developed nations. Take the United States of America for example, the civil war they fought did not decimate the nation but rather set up the base for unified development. Today, we all know how great the United States is.
“So, as it happened that here, we, Nigeria as a nation equally faced this type of challenge. We had to take actions, difficult as they were, to ensure peace, unity and progress. As a soldier of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari’s participation in efforts to keep the country together was not because he loved the Igbos less but because it was imperative that we develop as a unified nation.
“Today, we are all here because of the sacrifices of our past heroes. Buhari as a person believes that these sacrifices should not be in vain; that we should build on our gains as a unified country on the pains of the past. Neither as Igbo, Hausa, Efik, Yoruba, Ijaw and Fulani, among other tribes but as brothers and sisters unified in the vision of a greater future for our children.”
The APC said “on the Igbo Question, Buhari as President will create the environment and provide the platform that will ensure that the concern of the Igbos and all other Nigerians is addressed in a fair and just manner.”
Signed:
Garba Shehu
Directorate of Media and Publicity
APC Presidential Campaign Organisation
Plot 781 Herbert Macaulay
Central Area
Abuja.