Presidency to APC: You’ve nothing to offer Nigerians

Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe said this in a statement yesterday while dispelling the accusation made by the APC that the Jonathan-led government had planned to use the security agencies to harass and intimidate the opposition ahead of this year’s elections.
Okupe described the accusation as unfounded and baseless, challenging the leadership of the opposition party to prove the accusations to Nigerians.
He said the accusation showed clearly that the APC remained clueless “with nothing to offer as the alternative that the party continues to preach to Nigerians”.
Okupe said the Presidency viewed APC’s accusation as another smear attempt against Jonathan “in order to win cheap sympathy from the electorate ahead of the general elections.”
He said Jonathan’s administration has high regards for democratic principles and he (the president) has assured Nigerians and the international community repeatedly of his commitment to deliver free and credible elections.
The presidential aide said the opposition party should rather concentrate on selling its manifesto to the electorates.
Okupe said Jonathan remained resolute in providing quality leadership to Nigeria, advising all political parties to focus their campaigns on issues rather than name-calling and attacks on individuals.
According to him, while the federal government has ensured that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was equipped to perform its statutory duties, security agencies on their part have responsibility to guarantee the safety of lives and property.