PDP Replies IBB, Denies Sponsoring Documentary Demonising top Retired Military Personnel

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from anti-military documentary demonising top retired military personnel, which was erroneously described as the handiwork of ‘President Goodluck Jonathan’s men.’

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on wednesday, the Director, Media and Publicity of PDP presidential campaign committee, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said President Jonathan and all his

true friends have great respect for the military and therefore would not sponsor any documentary that seeks to undermine or disparage our armed forces.

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) in a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, lamented the demonisation of top retired military personnel in a series of campaign activities.

But Fani-Kayode, while exonerating the PDP from the anti-military documentary, said not only did the PDP frown on such unpatriotic documentary, but condemned it.

According to him, “It has been brought to our attention that there is speculation that an anti-military documentary which was aired on Silverbird Television last night, was erroneously described as the handiwork of ‘President Jonathan’s men’.

We wish to make it abundantly clear that the PDP presidential campaign organisation, the PDP or any true friend of President Jonathan would never have a hand in the compilation, production or sponsorship of any documentary that seeks to undermine or disparage our armed forces or indeed, those who have served our country in any military capacity in an honourable and meritorious way in the past.

“Not only do we frown on such unpatriotic documentaries, we also condemn them. We wish to make it clear that President Jonathan and all his true friends have nothing but the greatest respect for the military and the men and women of our armed forces.”

ani-Kayode also allegedly accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to discredit the federal government and score cheap political points before and after the presidential election.

“The APC, as part of its desperate attempt to discredit the government and to score a few cheap political points before Saturday’s election, have indulged in a classical case of economic sabotage and breach of national security by causing havoc in Lagos, particularly by going around waiving their smutty brooms specifically in places like Ajah, all the way to Epe, compelling petrol filling stations or seeking to persuade them with cash or threat not to sell petrol to the public.

“This is unpatriotic, unacceptable and it is something that the security agencies should look into. If a political party can do this just to get political power, what won’t they do once and if they ever get it.

“Again, we are aware that on March 23 in Lagos, Bola Tinubu met with Dele Alake, a member of the APC presidential campaign organisation and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Tinubu’s administration in Lagos State, and they agreed that in the event of their losing the election on March 28, that by March 29 and 30, they will mobilise millions of their supports from the six geo-political zones on a protest march to demonstrate their displeasure and to commit brazen acts of violence,” he said.

The PDP campaign director therefore warned that whatever the plan of the APC leaders toward the election, they will not be in a position to in anyway intimidate the Nigerian people or thwart their will, adding that: “When we (PDP) win this election, we will stand firm and defend our victory with everything that we have got. No one shall rob us of that victory.”

The PDP presidential campaign committee spokesman, while stressing the need for Nigerians to vote for President Jonathan and the PDP in the presidential poll, urged Nigerians to vote against APC based on the declaration by the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, that: “APC is a party founded on deception and it thrives on unholy propaganda and falsehood. APC is a party of insurgents and anarchists clothed in robes of pretence and deceit.”
Fani-Kayode said Ikuru’s words “are not only appropriate but they are also words that needed to be taken very seriously. We say this because no one else has managed to capture the very essence of the APC and the leadership of the APC with their words as well as Ikuru.”