The Presidency added that the PDP should use the opportunity of the electioneering to address their point of view in a democracy.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Presidency has knocked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its claims that the stone pelting incident at Hotoro area of Kano on the day of President Muhammadu Buhari’s to the city was sponsored by the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The PDP has been pushing the narrative that Tinubu and Buhari are in a cold war after the APC presidential flag bearer, at a rally, lamented over the fuel scarcity and naira redesign, all happening during the election period.
Reacting to this, the president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Tuesday dismissed PDP’s concern over the incident, saying condemnation of the fake incident by the opposition was mere crocodile tears meant to cause disaffection and division among chieftains and leadership of the APC.
The Presidency described the PDP’s comments on the incident as divisive rhetoric of an opposition in a futile attempt to malign the image of the President and the candidates of the APC in the coming elections.
According to Shehu, this is part of the PDP desperate wedge-driving activities to cause a division between the party and the government, warning that such falsehood is not what will give the opposition party victory in the February 25 presidential election.
The statement read in part: ”We have seen fake reports of stone-pelting incident that took place at Hotoro area of Kano on the day of the visit to the city by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, an incident, even if minor, that should stand condemned by all well-meaning citizens.
”Facts on ground as rendered by the law enforcement agencies speak of a clash between the local road transport authorities, the Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA) and thugs hired by a yet-to-be identified group that took place when the president was being treated to a banquet at the Government House, well after he had finished his projects commissioning.
”The President was in the state to work the development, safety and security of the lives of common citizens and the happy thing about it was that the good people of Kano State were appreciative of him for the progress the state and the nation at large are making under him.
”The divisive rhetoric of an opposition in a futile attempt to malign the image of the President and the candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the coming elections, and its desperate wedge-driving activities to cause a division between the party and the government is not what will give them victory.”
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It stressed that: ”A so-called leading opposition party that controls 14 states, going into elections with eight or nine of the states in tow should look inwards to see why their campaign is flagging and destined to fail. Their defeat is a foretold story by many discerning individuals.
”The stone-pelters as seen from the video in the fight against the traffic police were innocent children sponsored by politicians and terrorist sympathisers. There is no place for violence in a democracy.”
The Presidency added that the PDP should use the opportunity of the electioneering to address their point of view in a democracy, noting that when problems can be resolved through talks, there is no place for stone pelting, arson and unruly behaviour.
Shehu also called on political and religious leaders to always correctly inform the misled youngsters to shun the path of violence for the general good of the society.
”It is equally unhealthy for society and it becomes the duty of political, social and religious leaders to correctly inform the misled youngsters to shun the path of violence which is inimical to their own future.
”Lastly, is to say that the President has not lost his command and respect in Kano.
”For those who hold the border closure against him, they must come to realise that the 60-70 integrated rice mills in the city today would not have been in place if he had allowed the free-for-all smuggling to continue,” he stated.
Tinubu’s campaign spokespersons have also debunked the allegation.
