Labour Party (LP), yesterday, took on the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his claim that the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, arrested him in Anambra in 2013.
Recall that El-Rufai had narrated that Peter Obi while as the Governor of Anambra State had arrested him.
An old footage went viral almost immediately, purportedly showing where El-Rufai, in an interview after the supposed arrest, said three AK-47 wielding operatives picked him “threatening that they have directive from Abuja to restrict me to my room.”
Reacting, the Chief Spokesperson of LP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Yunusa Tanko, narrated what happened in Anambra as at the time.
He said: “On November 16, 2013, I was the IPAC chairman. I was in charge of all political party leaders. We were at the Finotel Hotel in Awka, Anambra State.
“Normally, all complaints from any political party come to our table. We had a situation room, organised by International Republican Institute. El-Rufai and my humble self and many others stayed in the same hotel.”
He expressed dismay that El-Rufai was claiming that he was attacked or gagged, saying: “We really investigated and we called a press conference on the matter, signifying the fact that El-Rufai was, at that time, the Deputy National Secretary of APC, and so he should be allowed to perform his duty according to party dictates.
“And then, there was no ambiguity because the security present at that time was to protect all senior personnel of political parties in that hotel.”
He explained that Obi, who was the governor of the state at the time, had nothing to do with any security issue as claimed by El-Rufai.
“I have photos to prove how we addressed a press conference at Finotel Hotel, Awka, condemning the Department of State Services (DSS) for illegally detaining El-Rufai. He never, for once, mentioned Peter Obi.
“This same El-Rufai went to court on this same issue. Obi was not mentioned, rather it was the DSS, and he got a judgment against them. It was a PDP government at the centre and Obi was a governor flying the flag of APGA.
“The court awarded him N2 million in damages for unlawful detention. Go into the Internet and you will see the full details. Precisely, it was published in Premium Times and Sahara Reporters of September 24, 2014.
“So, all he has been saying are blatant lies, deliberately designed to rubbish our presidential candidate before northerners.
“This is targeted to continue to lie to our people in the north to create a division for personal interest. This kind of division has kept our country down for too long. But the people are now being reawakened to fight for their right. We urge them not to be deceived any more.”
