The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that a claim by Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, of an assassination plot against him could cause panic and heat up the polity.
Spokesman of Lagos APC, Hon. Seye Oladejo said this in a Sunday statement titled, “Re- Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour Alleges Threat To Life”.
Oladejo said that instead of resorting to sensationalism, the LP candidate should make a formal complaint to the appropriate authorities considering the seriousness of the matter at hand.
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication where the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State alleged a threat to his life.
“For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate that it is irresponsible politics to recklessly continue to heat up the polity in the name politicking by levelling allegations that could throw the general public into panic.
“It is not enough to allege, it’s more important to take measures to formally complain to the appropriate authorities over a matter as serious as a threat to life.
“It remains the constitutional duty of the police to investigate crimes, effect arrests and prosecute.
“There’s no doubt that resorting to media sensationalism is suspicious of the real intention of the allegedly threatened.
“As a party, Lagos State APC holds dearly the sanctity of human life and the right of citizens to co-exist without molestation amid due respect to the benevolent host community.
“Lagos State since the advent of this dispensation has remained the most peaceful and secured in the country due to the priority attention accorded to the issue of security of lives and properties of all citizens by successive administration in the state.
“During this electioneering period , we have not recorded any serious security breach despite the hostility and provocation unleashed on Lagosians’ sensibilities through mindless campaigns based on tribe, religion and other sundry issues quite alien to our culture and tradition.
“We wish to state clearly that Chinedu is merely holding to straws having being exposed as a candidate lacking the requisite knowledge, commitment, exposure, wherewithal and maturity to aspire to the highest office in the state.
“He has been exposed as a tribal bigot and a religious fanatic who is determined to put a knife on the rope that ties us together.
“His record of effortlessly potting from his old party after losing the primaries to his new bed fellows is certainly not representative of the new Nigerian leadership craved by all and sundry, especially the youths. It smacks of crass opportunism bordering on mindless desperation.
“We have no doubt that he is afraid of his shadows as we count down to the governorship election when reality will displace fiction.”