The presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress [APC] has just issued the statement below indicating it would not participate in the series of debates being organised by the Broadcast Organisation of Nigeria [BON].
Read full statement below:
“Garba Shehu, Director Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said in a press statement on Thursday in Abuja that the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) powered debate was fraught with fundamental errors from the outset, by wearing the toga of government control, especially being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) administration.
“A salutary inspection of the composition of NEGD brings into focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), National Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Africa Independent Television (AIT, owned by a PDP chieftain). And going by the avalanche of inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies being propagated by some of these media against our Party and candidates contrary to the Koffi Annan brokered Abuja Peace Accord, and the failure of these aggressors to desist and apologise, have left the APC Campaign with no option than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that could be inimical to our prospective electoral success,” Shehu said.
The APCPCO spokesman further explained that the boycott by the APC should not be seen as disrespect to Nigerian voters, or an alibi for the party to dodge public scrutiny; but it must be viewed as an honourable right not to consent to any activity that could distract, demean, denigrate or derail the fast-moving train of the party.
“The APC is a party of progressive intellectuals, genuine technocrats, successful businessmen and women, and most of all eminent and courteous people of honour who would never condescend to the level of sadistic gutter propaganda, all in the name of political exigency and crass opportunism,” Shehu said.
He noted that that many Government-controlled media have clipped the wings of APC promotional advertisements on one excuse on the other adding that, until a court upturned their decision recently, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shutdown some telecom portals for soliciting legitimate campaign funds from members of the public for APC.
“Aside, elements close to sitting President Goodluck Jonathan have commissioned series of derogatory and death threat advertorials against the person, family and associates of the opposition leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, to which the APC had sent letters of complaint to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of State Security, Advertisers Practitioners of Nigeria (APCON), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the erring media that published or aired such offensive adverts or documentaries.
“None of our letters of protest has been attended to by the authorities. So whatever the incumbent President wants to do with the instrument of state to harass members of the opposition into humiliating submission would not work. The APC/Buhari campaign is now a people’s movement. The more they try to rubbish it, the more popular we are with the populace.
“We are not shadow-chasers or moonwalkers. The APC is concerned mainly with the lack of unity and security in Nigeria; plus the growing decimation of lives, property and territory of our great country due to preventable insurgency; the slumbering economy; decaying educational system; absence of jobs; poor public health; and the cancerous institutionalisation of corruption in our national life. You can’t fool the people all the time. Nigerians will vote out their oppressors come February 14.”
I have observed with deep regret the dependent ways of this nigerian owned radio and television stations mostly in their adverts. I would not honour any invitation from them if I am on the opposition party... APC you just read my mind.
ReplyDeleteCorrect! !!!!
ReplyDeleteAPC presidential candidate cannot speak and I can now understand that they don't have an agenda for Nigeria, if not they should come and tell us, we want to hear from the horses mouth
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 4:15pm, haba! It is either you are small when Buhari was head of state or simply feel biased. Look it the sponsored jingle AIT is airing all these while, is that not against the ethics of broadcasting ? Upon that Buhari still lead Jonathan in the AIT online presidential poll only for them (AIT) to shut it down when their wish was not met. We need change!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw Chief Raymond Dokpesi during one of the PDP organised events commandeering the stage and making podium arrangements on TV, I knew he must be a staunch and card carrying member of PDP and will definitely use his media outlets as an avenue to further the interest of his party one day. We have seen that today how Chief Raymond Dokpesi has thrown professionalism and decorum to the dogs by allowing the immoral airing of campaign of lies deceit and calumny against Muhammadu Buhari to the extent of degrading the memory of the dead by using the death of Buhari's late daughters as campaign weapon against his person...( Jonathan does not even respect the sanctity of the dead) Nigerians have all seen the extent to which PDP can go in order to destroy a person just for re-election and hold on to power by all means and at all cost, but what it has done is just the opposite as it has made Nigerians to like and support Buhari the more. the END is nigh for the ruling party come FEBUHARI 14th.
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