by Kolapo Olapoju

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it wonders if President Jonathan is afraid of investigating the Ekiti rigging tape owing to his statement that it was fabricated. According to them, his body language depicting an unwillingness to act on it.

The party issued a statement in London on Wednesday, February 25, through its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, criticizing the president’s standpoint that the allegation will not be investigated until Captain Sagir Koli, who recorded it, comes out ‘to authenticate it’.

The statement said: “Some people were found to be undermining democracy using a powerful national institution like the military, and all the President could say is that there will be no investigation until the officer who secretly recorded the tape has come forward to authenticate it. What a disingenuous argument!

The opposition party also brought to the attention of President Jonathan that the whistleblower’s life is presently at risk, while calling for an urgent investigation into the rigging audio tape.
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“​Is the President not aware that Capt. Sagir Koli, who recorded the tape, went into hiding because his life was in danger? Is the President not aware of the fate that befell Capt. Koli’s 15-year-old younger brother who was ​arrested and tortured at a military facility in Ibadan over the issue? Does the President ​not appreciate the patriotism which the officer exhibited by exposing those who criminally subverted democracy?”

“Unless President Jonathan is afraid of what an investigation into the tape may reveal, he should be in the forefront of those calling for an investigation. This is because, according to the major players in the rigging tape, the Ekiti rigging assignment was done expressly in the name of the President.”

“Obanikoro invoked the President’s name, saying he sent him to clinch victory for the PDP in the Ekiti governorship election. Unless the statement made by Obanikoro is true, the President has no business seeking to delay, even for one day, the investigation into the very serious allegations contained in the tape. The presence of Capt. Koli is not a necessary pre-condition for an investigation into the rigging allegation.”

“We are therefore repeating our call for an urgent investigation of the Ekiti rigging audio and at the same time demanding that all those who are found to have willfully subverted democracy be tried for treason. For the avoidance of doubt, no matter how long it takes, we will ensure that all those involved in the Ekiti show of shame are brought to justice,” APC added.

Kolapo Olapoju