APC condemns attack on Jonathan’s convoy as Asari-Dokubo vows to retaliate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the reported stoning of the campaign convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State on Tuesday, saying violence of any kind is totally unacceptable to the party.
In a statement in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Jonathan should be free to campaign anywhere in the country without hinderance.
It said even though the attack on the President’s convoy took place a day after the provocative death-wish-for-Buhari newspaper advertorial that was put out in the name of the President, nothing justifies the stoning of the President’s convoy anywhere in the country.
APC restated its commitment to a continuous enlightenment of its members and supporters to eschew violence before, during and after next month’s general elections, and urged other parties to follow suit.
”We consider election as a celebration of democracy, not a do-or-die affair. Whether or not one agrees with the campaign message of any party, engaging in violence negates the very essence of democracy and should be condemned by all,” the party said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has vowed to avenge the assault.
Asari-Dokubo also warned the Igbo residing in the North to return home as they would have themselves to be blamed should anything happen to them.
He said: “There is an established pattern of pre and post election violence in the North. In the 50s when late Awolowo was campaigning in the North, he went with helicopters and he was mocked. People said he was flying over the houses and peeping their wives. That has continued and everywhere in the country, people say leave them alone. We don’t want any trouble. But I think the game has changed. The rules of the game have changed.
“For every action, there will be an opposite and equal reaction. I knew that the signing of the accord in Abuja was useless and that the president subjected himself to sign such an accord. For me, it was out of place for a president and commander in chief of the armed forces of a country. But the president is a humble person. He does things that even marvel some of us and make us sometimes to be very angry.
“To be frank, I was very angry on that day they were signing it. The president has sworn to protect lives of all Nigerians. So, why would he, after taking a constitutional oath, subject himself to another oath?
“What happened in Katsina State is not a surprise. But don’t be surprised. We are putting the world on notice that they have started first. When we reply, let nobody talk. Because we are going to reply. We did not sign any accord with them. They did not sign. They are talking about election violence now because they know that other people will respond.
“Before, they had the monopoly of violence, so nobody cared who died. Our lives were not valuable and they had all the latitude to wreck havoc and did what they liked. But the game has changed. Everybody should be bold enough to tell them that game has changed. If they slice our throat, we are going to slice their throat. They stoned the president, you will hear from us. That’s the answer.
“My concern is what happens after the election because we know they will do what they are known to do every time. But this time, they will cry. All Igbo people who are there, if you don’t come back home and you want to continue to be there and something happens to you, there is nobody to be blamed. If you have a child who is a youth corper and you allow him to be there, you will not hold anybody responsible.
“There is no way Goodluck will not win the election. We will win them and we know they are preparing for violence in consonance with some foreign powers. When they do that, we will respond disproportionately. We will respond. That’s what we are going to do. If you hit me with a stick, I am going to hit you with iron. I am not speaking in riddles. I am speaking in plain language. My English may not be very good. I am speaking in my own street language. We are going to respond disproportionately. The people who are in Katsina who did not hold their children should also know that I will not hold my children”.