GEJ attacking Buhari for fear of losing, says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says President Goodluck Jonathan has resorted to personally attacking Muhammadu Buhari, its flagbearer in the forthcoming presidential election, because he is afraid of losing his position.

Garba Shehu, the director, media and publicity of the APC presidential campaign, wondered why Jonathan, who had earlier urged parties and candidates to dwell on issues agitating the minds of Nigerians, refused to do the same at his campaign outings in Enugu and Lagos.

Jonathan flagged off his campaign in Lagos on Thursday and went to Enugu on Friday.

The president, who said he would be going round the 36 states of the country and the federal capital territory, disclosed that corruption, insecurity and weak government would be the focal areas of his campaigns, as young people were his target.

On Friday, he censure Buhari, saying the former military head of state had no idea how to tackle corruption.

But in a press statement issued by Garba on Friday, the APC publicist argued that Jonathan failed to make make good use of the opportunity offered by his campaign outings to tell Nigerians what he has done for them in the last six years.

Garba noted that rather than discuss his future plans for Nigeria, the president spent valuable time reading copious excerpts from the maiden speech of General Ibrahim Babangida who overthrew Buhari in 1985”.

“Nigerians do not expect a political commentary from President Jonathan of a nearly 30-year-old speech delivered to the nation by IBB. What Nigerians expect to hear among others is what he has achieved in the last six years and why corruption still remains endemic and the economy in shambles. Is this what is needed to free the Chibok girls, strenghten the Naira, pay salaries of civil servants, stop the industrial stealing of crude oil or ensure the safety and security of Nigerians?” he queried.

“After six years of Jonathan administration, the nation is still gripped by pervasive insecurity, aggravated unemployment notably among the youths.

“If the youths are so dear to him as the president has claimed, whatever happened to the tens of thousands who lined up for the Nigeria Immigration Services recruitment with several of them losing their lives over which no one has taken responsibility and the minister is still at his job. Even the automatic employment promised to the injured and relations of the deceased still remain a mirage. President Jonathan should be reminded that the February 14 presidential election is a referendum on his lacklustre leadership.”

APC maintained that Buhari’s presidency would re-enact zero tolerance for corruption, leadership integrity and national discipline, values that are alien to the Jonathan’s administration.

“Claims that General Buhari will jail the corrupt, is utter falsehood. As President, Buhari will allow due process to prevail.

“The decision of conviction and imprisonment will remain in exclusive preserve of the court. As president, Buhari will not meddle in court decisions, he will abide by the constitution in all cases. He will not cut deals to see corrupt people walk out of prosecution.”