The All Progressives Congress has vehemently denied allegations leveled by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party that it is behind the scourge of terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Nigeria’s main opposition party made the claim in a statement issued in Lagos by Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said, “We have absolutely no hand in this insurgency, and we dare anyone with contrary information to publish such today. It is trite that he who alleges must prove.
‘‘It said that in the absence of any evidence, Nigerians would have no choice but to conclude that the relentless finger-pointing by the PDP/Presidency was a ploy to divert attention from those who are actually behind the insurgency, those who see it as a trump card to 2015 and those who have been benefitting massively from the huge funds being allocated to security.’’
‘’Otherwise, how can the PDP-led federal government claim to have ‘evidence of meetings held outside the shores of the country’ to violently overthrow the government of President Jonathan, and yet refuse to make such evidence public or arrest and try those involved?
‘’Or is it only the riotous spokesman of the party who has the evidence?’’ the party queried.
The APC said the latest accusation by the PDP was made within the framework of its plan to frame up the party and clamp down on its leaders ahead of the 2015 general elections, having realised that it could not possibly win the 2015 elections due to its alleged appalling record of failure.
‘’Otherwise, how can the PDP-led federal government claim to have ‘evidence of meetings held outside the shores of the country’ to violently overthrow the government of President Jonathan, and yet refuse to make such evidence public or arrest and try those involved?
‘’Or is it only the riotous spokesman of the party who has the evidence?’’ the party queried.
It berated the PDP for allegedly suffering from selective amnesia by its interpretation of APC’s statement, which pointed out to the party that President Jonathan is not the first minority Nigerian leader, hence the people should be spared the boring reference to his ethnic origin.
‘’It is a reflection of PDP’s diabolical mind that it only picked out the former minority leaders who are soldiers and left out the name of a former civilian leader. We mentioned three former leaders who are of minority ethnic stock: Tafawa Balewa (Sayewa), Yakubu Gowon (Angas) and Sani Abacha (Kanuri).
‘’Curiously but not unfathomably, the PDP dropped the name of Balewa and then extrapolated from the fact that we mentioned two former military leaders that we are comparing a democratically-elected president with defunct military dictatorships. This can only be the product of a contorted mind,” APC said.