The Presidency on Friday warned the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the recent attacks on president Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign train.
The ruling party told the APC to call its supporters to order to stop the ‘nonsense’.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, gave the warning on Friday in Abuja.
Alkali, in a statement entitled: “This nonsense must stop,” pointed out that the action of the APC’s supporters was a negation of the non-violence peace pact signed recently in Abuja by all the presidential candidates.
The statement reads: “When the peace pact by the major Political Parties participating in the 2015 General Elections was signed, Nigerians heaved a great sigh of relief in the belief that the tensions stocked up in the buildup to the campaigns will subside.
“President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blazed the trail in appending his signature to the historic document.
“General Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of other parties also signed, pledging a violence free electioneering process and rejection of uncouth and inciting language.
“Unfortunately, while President Jonathan and the PDP have remained bound by the letters and spirit of the peace pact, supporters of the APC candidate have had a field day, violating all the terms of the pact and engaging in violence even on the person and entourage of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The successive incidents in Katsina and Bauchi States, where irate youth supporters of the APC unleashed a reign of terror on the convoy of the President, is an ominous wind that blows no one any good.
“A situation where any citizen of Nigeria, least of all the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be made unsafe in any part of Nigeria is unacceptable and stands condemned.
“Were it not for the maturity and professionalism of the security personal on the convoy of the President, an ugly scenario provoked by these hooligans would have held sway.
“We commend the security agents for nipping the situation in the bud.
“Once more, we call on leaders of the APC, on whose behalf these dastardly acts where executed, to call their attack dogs to order, in order to avert similar reprisal measures by overzealous supporters of other Parties.
“President Goodluck Jonathan remains firmly committed to the peace pact and has successfully reigned in his supporters to avoid violence or inciting statements.
“For him, His campaign remains a quest for the total transformation of Nigeria and not an egocentric or desperate struggle to assert himself.
“We thank Nigerians for the rousing welcome accorded the President in all locations where the campaign team have visited so far.
“While the APC has continued to whip up sentiments and run a divisive campaign, we are satisfied with the show of love, support and solidarity shown by all Nigerians at our campaign venues.
“Finally, we shall not allow desperate people to distract us from our drive to connect with Nigerian people and lift them to greater heights. This nonsense must stop.”
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