ABUJA – The Presidency on Friday criticised the spokesman of the opposition APC Lai Muhammed for lying against President Goodluck Jonathan concerning the April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly polls in Lagos.
The Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, was reacting to an allegation by Muhammed that Jonathan’s visit to Lagos was to prepare grounds for the PDP to rig Saturday’s polls in the state.
“To say that the President went to Lagos to supervise the rigging of Saturday’s election is most uncharitable and cruel,’’ Abati said in Abuja.
“Lai Muhammed should look for another target and leave the President alone.
“His fatuous tale does not make any sense. I repeat: we will like to advise that the APC should just leave the President alone.
“President Jonathan was a candidate in the presidential election; he did not rig the election. Why would he want to rig tomorrow’s elections?’’ he asked.
Abati said that Muhammed was fond of concocting lies against Jonathan and advised him to desist from such acts.
“Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that the President came to Lagos to rig the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, April 11.
“He is of course lying as usual and rude.’’
Abati said that Jonathan visited Lagos on April 8 and left on April 9, adding that “anytime the President is in Lagos or any part of the country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him.’’
He said that the presidency did not see how a visit to the president by a serving minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, the Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, activist Gani Adams or any other person should be an issue to the APC.
Abati said: “the President did not hold meetings with INEC officials, he did not meet with the police, or polling officials or with anybody who is involved in organising elections.’’
He recalled that after the Presidential election, the President immediately congratulated Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the whole world commended him for saving Nigeria.
“President Jonathan’s sportsmanship, statesmanship and leadership saved this country at that critical moment.
“He has demonstrated his commitment to free and fair election, the rule of law and due process.
“He has shown that he is a man of character, honour and integrity; Nigerians generally are proud of him.
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“He has left a worthy legacy and shown a great example.
“That obviously is the narrative that Lai Muhammed and his masters want to change, so they are now cooking up meaningless tales.’’
The presidential spokesperson concluded that nothing unusual happened during Jonathan’s last visit to Lagos. (NAN)
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