Amaechi’s alleged audio won’t break APC — FG

The Federal Government has said the release of an audio in which the Minister of Transportation , Mr Rotimi Amaechi , allegedly criticised President Muhammadu Buhari will not break the All Progressives Congress .The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed , stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday .

Amaechi is the director -general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Mohammed said , “ The opposition is determined to ensure the ongoing campaign for the 2019 elections is not based on issues but on mudslinging .

“ What is the point in shopping around for audio clips or publications that are then maliciously edited out of context ? Why do they think this will break our ranks in the ruling party?

“ What advantage do they think they can get from this infantile act ? Whoever wants to circulate any audio or video clip should do so in its entirety so the people can understand the context . Otherwise , let them continue wasting their time circulating an audio that is clearly designed to blackmail . ”

Speaking on controversy around the Inspector – General of Police , Mr Ibrahim Idris , whose tenure will expire on January 15 , Mohammed said the President “ is at liberty to extend his tenure . ”

He also said the planned protest by the opposition would not be enough to stop the President from excising his power .

The minister claimed that former Presidents extended the tenures of former IGs .

He said , “ When you are drowning , you grab any floating object you can find . You even grab at straws . That ’ s what the PDP is doing with the issue of the IGP ’ s tenure .

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“ In the first instance , it is the prerogative of Mr President to extend or not to extend the tenure of the Inspector – General of Police or any service chief . That prerogative cannot be taken from Mr President on the altar of paranoia by some people .

“ Former President Olusegun Obasanjo , in his time , extended the tenure of Mr Sunday Ehindero as IGP . Was there no opposition party then ? Also , in his time , President Umaru Yar’ Ardua extended the tenure of Mr Mike Okiro as IGP , heavens didn ’ t fall . ”

He added , “ I have read that some opposition parties are planning a series of nationwide protests on the issue of IG ’ s tenure . That ’ s purely within their right in a democracy . And I wish them the best of luck . ”

Jonathan appointed Zakari as INEC commissioner

Speaking on INEC ’ s appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari as head of the commission ’ s Collation Centre Committee , Mohammed described the opposition ’ s reaction to it as nothing but sheer hysteria , which he said would result from a pathological fear of impending political doom .

He said , “ Her role is limited to overseeing the physical structure, that is the International Conference Centre , which is the collation centre for the presidential election . The cries of the opposition amount to red herring .

“ In targeting Mrs Zakari , the PDP has forgotten that she was appointed in their time . If she was found worthy then , what has changed now ?

“ Ahead of the 2019 elections, the PDP has complained against the IG , INEC chairman , Mrs Amina Zakari , etc . , the party is blaming everyone but itself for the sorry state in which it has found itself . ”

Why Tinubu is leading Buhari ’ s campaign

Mohammed also said President Buhari would not want his work to be affected by campaign , and decided to hand over the responsibility of steering the campaign to a former governor of Lagos State , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He said the action was within the President ’ s prerogative and a mark of the confidence he reposed in the former governor .

He said , “ Concerning the mischievous insinuation from the opposition that PMB handed over the campaign to Asiwaju because he cannot withstand the rigours of electioneering campaign , this is absurd .

“ The President ’ s daily schedule over the past months is more rigorous than any electioneering campaign .

“ Of course , it has never happened in the recent history of Nigeria that a President facing re – election will rather concentrate on his job rather than his campaign . PDP , for one , cannot fathom this because of their brand of do or die politics. Again , the President deserves commendation, not condemnation , for that decision . ”
Mohammed also denied the PDP ’ s allegations that the ruling party was planning to use the Operation Python Dance launched by the army to rig elections.

“ The truth is that the PDP , in its time , used the security agencies to rig elections after elections. It is therefore not a surprise they are afraid that the APC might do the same . We do not rig elections and we do not use security agencies to rig elections. We are APC , not PDP . ”

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