by Kolapo Olapoju
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to take legal action against the persons responsible for the lawless acts perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party in the elections of Rivers and Lagos states.
Buhari says that PDP desperately wanted to be in control of the two states and as such employed various tactics, such as inducement and violence to make sure the polls favoured them.
He made the comments in an interview with Vanguard, where he also lauded the doggedness of Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Read below an excerpt from the interview.
“For what happened in Lagos, I think that for whatever political reason, the PDP wanted to have Lagos by all means.
I have a lot of respect for the governor of Rivers State for his courage. At a certain time, the Commissioner of Police virtually hijacked the state and the governor was virtually sentenced to the streets fighting thugs without law enforcement agents while the Constitution makes it very clear that the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state.
So, a lot of lawless acts of the PDP are on record and we intend to make the PDP understand it and make sure that, according to the law, those who are responsible for that are taken to the court and properly charged. We are in this system because we believe in it and we want it to stabilize because it is good for our country. If Nigerians have the confidence that their votes count, then they will mind their business and I assure you that there will be more security in the country.
But when people feel that they are abandoned, then they will resist. I think that by nature, human beings are rebels especially in Nigeria. You must try and placate them, convince them and show them that their rights are respected or you will not have peace. On what we hear about the money that changed hands, it would have been impossible for APC to win anything in this country because we don’t have the treasury in our pocket. There was no amount of money that could convince Nigerians this time around.
A lot of them took the money and did exactly what their conscience wanted them to do, while some even returned the money. Somehow, Rivers and Lagos were seen as strategic to the PDP. Otherwise, how could APC have a marginal 100,000 votes over APC in Lagos which is virtually the capital of the APC in the South- West? A lot of things will come out, but we want to do it basically on facts which can be verified and quantified.”
Buhari should please forget about Rivers state and his his claims about election malpractices in the state. Please let’s leave sentiments aside and call a spade a spade, Rivers state has never been an APC state and whether APC likes it or not PDP will continue to win elections in Rivers state without rigging as long as this 2015 election is concern. I am not from this state but i reside and work in Rivers state and on a daily basis when you listen to the opinion of an average Rivers person young and old, male or female you would understand that the people are tired of Rotimi Amaechi being in the affairs of their state. They just don’t want him any more and that is the simple truth that all Nigerians should accept about the situation in Rivers state. So please if Amaechi truly loves his state he should let peace reign and respect the wish the majority of the Rivers people. I can promise you that if election is rescheduled a million times in Rivers state this 2015 under the sun and in the rain with the determination I have seen Rivers people will go all out to prove APC wrong again by giving their vote to PDP a million times. So please INEC should save their resources for 2019 and every aggrieved person should lower their goad and give peace a chance in Rivers state. President elect please pay more attention to the Change you promised to give us cos Nigerians are watching you with 3/HD lens.
jameel sanni go and sit down you idiot,, did anybody take you animals to court for the mother all crimes you people committed in this election? let him do all he promised and stop buzzing peoples ears. did GEJ take him to court ? you enemies of peace .
This Animal call Phil or sometn tnk God he dint arm any body to tk on d street nd harRass innocent pple lik u pple did in Lagos nd River state. I v personally over see election in south easth nd south west they used to writhing d results, Jega culdnt v share d pvc house to house,
The president elect should also get INEC to explain how the APC were able to get over 1.9 million votes in Kano state alone in a single day without reporting any problems with the card readers!!!!
@Phil Ed i marvel at ur stupidity and cringe at the level of insanity that runs thru ur brain,u silly twat…#Gejwinsit.Lol
Buhari, while you are at it ensure that those who registered millions of underage voters in the North are tried and jailed, and the votes recounted. Also take Jega to court for disenfranchising millions of Nigerians.
You think we are stupid? You will end up dividing Nigeria and being the president of North alone. Shameless man
U think is Buhari talking,he has a lot to sort out in Aso rock,he may not hv time for this,I guess this might be an Apc cooked stroy
you have said it all