By Emeka Alex Duru
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried an alleged directive by the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shut down the venue for its presidential campaign mega rally in Abuja on Saturday.
The opposition party said the plot was an act of desperation, but said it would, nevertheless, go ahead with the programme, vowing that nothing can stop it from rallying in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement on Friday by the national publicity secretary. Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said: “It may interest Nigerians to know that the PDP duly paid and secured permission to host our mega rally at the Old Parade Ground, in Garki Area of Abuja, only for the officials of the facility to inform our party this morning (Friday) that they have been “ordered” to shut down the venue and frustrate our mega rally for no just cause.”
The opposition party said “such resort to self-help further exposes the irredeemable insensitivity of the Buhari Presidency and the APC.”
Boasting that the “overwhelming popularity” of their candidate, Atiku Abubakar, “which points to an imminent crushing defeat that awaits President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16, presidential election has pushed the presidency into a panic mode” PDP vowed to resist the move.
“President Buhari has always been disheartened and jittery over
spontaneous mammoth crowd of Nigerians at Atiku Abubakar’s rallies
across the country, leading to the desperation to frustrate our rallies,
resort to smear campaigns, vandalizing of our campaign materials and
denial of venues, in APC controlled states, as was the case in Kano
state recently.
“President Buhari is frustrated because he has failed in governance and
as such, has no message for Nigerians. President Buhari daily continues
to lose followership, in millions, to Atiku Abubakar; for which his
handlers have now resorted to renting people for his rallies, including
Nigerien thugs.
“The Buhari Presidency and APC would soon realize that the more they
fight Atiku Abubakar, the more Nigerians are spurred to queue behind him
as the rallying point in their quest to return our nation to the path of
national cohesion and economic prosperity.
“The PDP therefore charges President Buhari not to allow his handlers to
further pitch him against Nigerians with this contemptible shut down of
the venue of the PDP Presidential campaign rally in Abuja, as such is a
direct assault on the sensibilities and aspiration of Nigerians across
the board.”
