FFK to Akiolu: We like peace but we’re not weak

Femi Fani-Kayode, the director of media and publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign organisation (PDPPCO), says the threat of Oba of Lagos against Ndigbo as unacceptable.

In a statement released on Monday, Fani Kayode said the PDP had been threatened with such ethnic cleansing in the north before the March 28 presidential election, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat was no sign of weakness.

“The Oba of Lagos’ threat against the igbos in Lagos that if they do not vote for the APC in the governorship election on Saturday, they should be ‘ready for the consequences’ and that if they don’t vote for Ambode they should be ready to ‘perish inside the lagoon’ is ominous and unacceptable.

“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 28th 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 11th governorship election.

“Let two things be clearly understood. In as much as we all want peace in this country and in as much as Jonathan has graciously and quickly conceded defeat in the presidential election, this does not mean that we are weak or powerless.”

He added that any attempt to kill, maim and molest PDP supporters in the country would be faced with resistance from over 12 million loyal foot soldiers who voted PDP in the presidential elections.

“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 election or any attempt at ethnic or religious cleansing by the APC, their supporters or their friends and agents will be deemed unacceptable and will be met with defiance, contempt and a well-orchestrated and solid resistance.

“These APC threats and all the attendant rubbish that goes 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. No one will be allowed to throw our supporters ‘into the lagoon’ and make them ‘perish’ and neither will there be any negative consequences if they vote against the APC in Lagos or anywhere else.

“The APC would do well to remember that they only won the presidential election by 2 million votes. They got 14 million votes whilst 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.”

He urged Lagosians to come out en masse to vote for the PDP and deliver the state from the shackles of “darkness and oppression”.

Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, threatened that any Igbo in Lagos who does not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Lagos would die in the Lagoon.