The Oba of Lagos’ threat against the Igbos in Lagos that if they do not vote for the APC in the governorship elections on Saturday they should be “ready for the consequences” has been described as ominous and unacceptable.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said in a statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express:

“The truth is that we were threatened with ethnic cleansing and religious carnage in the North had Buhari not won the presidential election on March 28th and had President Jonathan not quickly conceded defeat. We let that go and kept the peace but now our traditional supporters are being threatened in Lagos and in many other states as we approach the April 11 governorship elections.

“Let two things be clearly understood. Inasmuch as we all want peace in this country and inasmuch as Jonathan has graciously and quickly conceded defeat in the presidential election, this does not mean that we are weak or powerless.

“Let it be clearly understood by all and sundry that any attempt to kill, maim or molest our supporters in the North, in the West or indeed in any other parts of the country either before, during or after Saturday’s governorship elections or any attempt at ethnic or religious cleansing by the APC, their supporters or their friends and agents will be deemed unacceptable and will be met with defiance, contempt and a well-orchestrated and solid resistance.

“These APC threats and all the attendant rubbish that goes with them must stop. No one is intimidated on our side and neither do we fear for the future because God is with us, He is faithful and He is in perfect control. This is an election and it is not a war so we must be civilised, restrained, gentle and courteous in all our ways and dealings.

“We want peace and we want harmony in this country but no one or no group of people will be allowed to turn us or our supporters into slaves or give us sleepless nights. No one will be allowed to throw our supporters “into the lagoon” and make them “perish” and neither will there be any negative consequences if they vote against the APC in Lagos or anywhere else,” he said.

The APC, Fani-Kayode added, should remember that they only won the presidential election by 2 million votes, whilst the PDP got 12 million votes in that election. This, he said, meant that PDP have 12 million loyal foot soldiers and supporters who must not be ignored but be respected.

According to him, “We are a strong party, we are confident for the future, we are ready for anything and most important of all we are ready for the polls on Saturday. We take this opportunity to urge the PDP faithful in Lagos to go out and vote en masse for the PDP.

“We urge them to vote for Jimi Agbaje and to free Lagos State from the shackles of darkness and oppression. We urge them to stand firm, to hold their heads up high and to do their very best.

“We urge our supporters in Rivers State, Oyo State, Imo State, Plateau State, Kaduna State and indeed in all the states where elections will take place on Saturday to do the same, to take the destiny of their respective states into their hands and to vote for the PDP candidates in the governorship elections.”

Fani-Kayode said what happened during the presidential election on March 28 was sad and unfortunate but PDP had accepted defeat and embraced the will of the people of Nigeria. That, however, he maintained, does not mean the end of the party and surrender for the APC in the next election.

He called on the party faithful and foot soldiers to to rise up in their millions to wipe away the sadness of March 28 by winning massively in Saturday’s governorship elections.

This, he noted, is the time to prove to the party’s detractors that despite their provocative utterances, the PDP is still very much alive.

“”By the grace of God, our party shall go from strength to strength despite the monumental challenges that lie ahead. Whether we win or lose on Saturday is not the issue.

“The issue is that whatever anyone may say and whatever they may feel, the PDP is not going to disappear and neither shall we crumble and fade away. We are here for the long haul: we are here to stay,” he said.

•Photo shows Fani-Kayode.

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