Presidency has reacted to a trending video showing a former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, discussing the “arrest” of unnamed persons.
Oshiomhole, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 17, visited the Presidential Villa where he met with President Buhari.
Buhari, at the end of the meeting, warned political actors in the forthcoming Edo governorship elections to shun any act capable of disrupting socio-political order in the state.
However, barely 24 hours after Oshiomhole’s visit to the villa, a video clip showing him discuss with Gambari went viral.
In the video, Oshiomhole was seen walking briskly alongside Gambari at the presidential villa and muttering; “arrest…deal with and the whole… will change.” Gambari responded saying; “we will go beyond…”
The video has since drawn criticisms from Nigerians on social media as some believe the discuss is in relation to the September 19 Edo governorship election and a possible clampdown on the opposition.
In the review of the video by MDB, the full comments made by the duo were not quite audible.
Reacting to the viral video, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, dispelled the allegations, saying;
It is very important to strongly dispel misguided messaging amongst commentators, rights activists, advocates and journalists who have been reacting to a trending short video clip, alleging that the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and Chief Adams Oshiomhole, the former All Progressives Congress, APC chairman had hatched a plan to arrest opposition individuals ahead of the September election in Edo State.
He described the video as;
An ingenious patchwork of mischief, extracted from an innocent conversation focused on the emerging incidents of violence in the run up to the election. It is equally a fact that various political parties campaigning in Edo have levelled accusations of violence against one another.
The Presidential Aide added;
In such a heightened state of uncertainty, responsible leadership, must ensure that elections are conducted in a peaceful manner and if warranted, judicious use of law enforcement to protect lives and properties of citizens is mobilised thus preventing criminal elements from subverting the democratic process.
Shehu said;
President Muhammadu Buhari does not support violence of any sort and its propagators will be brought to justice. Equally important, is that the persons in the video, Professor Gambari and Comrade Oshiomhole have a history and track record of working to protect the rights of Nigerians and humanity of all walks of life, especially the poor and marginalized; and as such will not be found encouraging any conduct that runs counter to these values.
The most recent state governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states have been characterised by violence by armed men sometimes in alliance with security agencies.
Both elections were originally won by the APC which said the elections were peaceful contrary to condemnation by most local and international observers.
Watch the trending video below;
