The Director of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s alleged threat to Igbos in Lagos.
Oba Akiolu was reported to have warned Igbo leaders living in Lagos that if they vote against the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, they would be in trouble.
In a meeting with Eze Ndigbos in Lagos, Oba Akiolu had warned,”if any of you goes against Ambode, whom I picked, that is your end”.
“If it does not happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me”.
Reacting to this warning, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode said that the Oba’s statement, demanding the Igbos to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode or be ready to “perish inside the lagoon” is ominous and unacceptable.
In a statement released on Monday, Mr Fani-Kayode said that the threat is not one that would be swept under the carpet and warned against further intimidation of PDP members no matter their ethnic or religious background.
He added that, “we want peace and we want harmony in this country, but no one or group of people would be allowed to turn us or our supporters into slaves or give us sleepless nights”.
Mr Fani-Kayode said: “The truth is that we were threatened with ethnic cleansing and religious carnage in the North had Buhari not won the presidential election on March 28 and had President Jonathan not quickly conceded defeat. We let that go and kept the peace, but now, our traditional supporters are being threatened in Lagos and in many other states as we approach the April 11 governorship elections.
“Let two things be clearly understood. In as much as we all want peace in this country and as Jonathan has graciously and quickly conceded defeat in the presidential election, this does not mean that we are weak or powerless.
“Let it be clearly understood by all and sundry that any attempt to kill, maim or molest our supporters in the North, in the West or indeed in any other part of the country either before, during or after Saturday’s governorship elections or any attempt at ethnic or religious cleansing by the APC, their supporters or their friends and agents, would be deemed unacceptable and would be met with defiance, contempt and a well-orchestrated and solid resistance.”
Mr Fani-Kayode also stated, “These APC threats and all the attendant rubbish that go with them must stop. No one is intimidated on our side and neither do we fear for the future because God is with us; He is faithful and He is in perfect control. This is an election and it is not a war. So, we must be civilised, restrained, gentle and courteous in all our ways and dealings.
“The APC would do well to remember that they only won the presidential election by two million votes. They got 14 million votes while the PDP got 12 million votes in that election. This means that we have 12 million loyal foot soldiers and supporters in this country and that is no mean feat. Those 12 million voters cannot be ignored or treated with disdain and contempt. They must and will be respected.”
