Hard campaigns win elections, not dark plots to arrest opponents, the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) media campaign has declared.
The party was reacting to Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu’s call for the arrest of APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and former Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, claiming both were plotting harm towards him, and calling on the Police and DSS to arrest them.
But in a swift response, the Chairman of the Edo State APC Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki said calling for the arrest of a partisan opponent was strange to democracy. It therefore advised the PDP to work hard at its campaigns, and stop dreaming silly dreams.
“To start with, how can any democrat worth his name plot to arrest his opponent on the virtual eve of a poll?” Mayaki, the chief campaign spokesperson queried. “Is democracy not about choice? How can you get that free choice, if all you plot is how to arrest your opponents, over wild rumours and blatant lies?”
On Oshiomhole, Mayaki wagered both Shaibu and Obaseki, his principal, might be haunted by their treachery and betrayal towards a benefactor, which he added, could explain their blind panic, each time they hear that name.
“Both governor and deputy appear haunted by the Oshiomhole name, probably for their double treachery. But whatever jitters they might have should have no business with the Edo people, who they now deceive with their wild allegations,” he remarked.
But returning to arrests, Mayaki said that was probably what the PDP would have done, were they to control the central levers of power as APC now does, adding however that the Edo APC was all about free choice.
“That is why our party is campaigning hard, to win big, on September 19. So far, the Edo people are owning our message of hope and liberation. The PDP know this, and that is why they resort to wild allegations, of which the deputy governor’s is only the latest, but surely not the last.”
But Mayaki advised the PDP to try spread its message too, but doubted if it had any; which explained why it was pushing out wild allegations, given the cold shoulder it had received so far from the Edo people.
On violence, Mayaki restated his party’s commitment to civilized campaigns and peaceful polls: “We have said it before and I will say it again: we have a winning message. So, we need peaceful campaigns to sell that message, and further persuade our people to join us to rebuild Edo, after Governor Obaseki’s four years of ruin.”
Mayaki said it was good Shaibu had written a petition but hoped that petition was based on concrete facts, and not the usual blatant lies, that the Edo people have come to know of Shaibu and his sinking principal.
Discussion about this post