The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation on Sunday put to task the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammed Buhari saying he must explain the dark sides of his activities during the civil war.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia, Abia State capital the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Chief Femi-Fani-Kayode, said there had been “mind boggling allegations” against Buhari over his roles in the massacre of Igbos in the ‘60s and should therefore not be allowed to continue to run from his shadows.
He said Buhari’s hands reek of the blood of innocent Igbo civilians massacred in cold blood hence such atrocities could not qualify him as a presidential candidate but a candidate for the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
Citing the horrendous massacre of Igbo civilians, including women and children in the North, and the killing of Igbo men and young boys at Asaba after the town was “liberated” by federal forces, Fani-Kayode insisted that Buhari’s name had always popped up in connection with those heinous crimes against humanity.
“It is important for us to remember that day because one of the allegations against Buhari that was to be put to him at the Oputa Panel was that he was among the division that took part in the massacre and that ordered those killings,” he said, adding that Buhari should speak up and explain if he was in Asaba on that fateful day and if so apologise to Igbos and Nigerians in general before atoning for his sins.
He said Buhari had a golden opportunity to atone for his sins when he was invited by the Oputa Panel but in his arrogance he went to court to stop the panel from looking into his past crimes as a soldier during the civil war and as Head of State.
“We consider it germane for us to ask these questions here because we are on the soil of Igbo land. This is because it is the sons and daughters from this soil that suffered the pains of the atrocities that were committed. It is also relevant for us to ask these questions here because in Umuahia, the epicenter of Igbo land and the birth place of General Aguiyi Ironsi, who was the first Igbo to ever become the Head of State and who was killed six months after he took office.”
Fani-Kayode noted that prominent Igbo leaders have been asking these pertinent questions in hushed tones without getting answers and “as a compassionate and civilised campaign organisation” it has a duty to demand answers from Buhari since he is vying to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.
Fani-Kayode described Buhari as “nothing but a plague and affliction to the Nigerian people,” adding that part of the job of the PDP campaign organisation “is to help obviate a catastrophic political future for Nigeria simply by ensuring that a wrong candidate does not rise on the crest of crass propaganda to become the president of this country.”
While acknowledging that the Igbo people have suffered immensely over the years in this country, Fani-Kayode noted that it was heart-warming that in the past two years they have been able to hold their head high under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said this should be a pay back time for those who may have had a hand in meting out the atrocities suffered by Ndigbo in the past.
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“The only way the Igbo can do this is by refusing to vote for General Buhari in the coming presidential elections,” he said, adding, that no “self-respecting” Igbo man would vote for a general believed to have actively participated in the pogrom of ‘60s.
Fani-Kayode also questioned the ability of Buhari to manage the economy of Nigeria if given the chance to become the president, saying that unlike other retired generals, he has not been able to manage any small business but rather continues to portray himself as poor with a saintly gesture that portrays him as Mr. Clean.”
The media and publicity director of PDP campaign organisation took a swipe at the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, for reportedly saying that Ndigbo should not waste their votes on President Jonathan as other parts of Nigeria had resolved to vote Buhari.
“This is a lie from the pit of hell. Okorocha knows very well that all parts of Nigeria are rooting for President Jonathan, including the North where Buhari hails from. We trust that you can never be cowed by APC’s cheap propaganda and false claims,” he said. (Thisday)
