The Borno state All Progressives Congress, APC Campaign Council has warned the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to desist from malicious falsehood as they go about campaigning ahead of the next year’s governorship election in the State.
The group warned that the civility of the governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, should not be mistaken for timidity, saying that the APC being the ruling party in the State would ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
A statement by the Co-chairman of the
Media and Publicity, Borno APC Campaign, Inuwa Bwala, obtained by SUMMIT POST
, from his verified Facebook page reads thus:
We wish to reiterate once more , that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Botno State intend to give every political party a level playing ground to express themselves and carry out their political activities without hinderance.
We wish to also re-emphasize that we look forward to issue based campaigns without having to resort to the use of foul languages or causing embarassment to any of our opponents.
The recent public apology to the people by His excellency the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, over recent political clashes in the state is a demonstration of our commitment to peaceful elections.
We however wish to take exception to a post by one Amos Aziba, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Borno State, in which he not only embarrassed us, but spread deliberate falsehood.
Mr Aziba took to his Facebook account, where he deliberately tried to embarrass the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and his political godson Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, by alleging that the duo exchanged blows at the Government House.
May we state for the avoidance of doubt that, it was a deliberate mischief and nothing could be further from the truth to that effect.
His Excellency returned to Maiduguri from Abuja around 10: 00 pm and was recieved by a few aides, including Barrister Kaka Shehu.
He went straight to the Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital and the Fatimah Ali Sheriff Maternity Hospital, and therefrom retired to the house, after the usual prayers by the few personal aides that received him from the airport.
The Governor drove in the same vehicle with Barrister Kaka Shehu, and went to a wedding fatiah together on Saturday morning.
It was rather baffling that the said Amos Aziba posted on his Facebook that the duo have been fighting.
We hereby give Amos Aziba 48 hours within which to apologize to His Excellency the Governor and by extension Barrister Kaka Shehu and to immediately retract the said post or we may be compelled to resort to the law.
If the said character is enlightened enough, we expect him to have known that there is a limit to political rascality, just as there is also a limit to the use of falsehood as a political tool, under the law.
We have tolerated similar posts from him in the past, just to avoid heating up the polity and in the hope that he will desists when ignored, but he seems to have been emboldened by the false public acclaim that greeted opposition opinions.
With this, he has crossed the red line, and we wish to let him know, that it cannot be business as usual.
Inuwa Bwala
Co-Chairman
Media and Publicity
Borno APC Campaign