My attention has been drawn to a spurious allegation by one Mr Tope Atte to the effect that I waged violence on my own people. I want to set the record straight by stating unequivocally that the allegations are untrue, malicious, baseless and a usual propaganda to malign my person.
As far as I am concerned, the allegations were concocted to attract undue sympathy, knowing they have no chance at all in the upcoming election.
When I saw the illogically concocted falsehood on social media, I told my supporters to ignore it and concentrate on our campaign. But the decision of The News to be drawn into the partisanship by publishing the one-sided story.
Let me make it clear that my security aides did not molest anyone not threaten anybody. I have a track record of peace and no matter how hard Tope Atte and The News try to make black white, they will not succeed.
I have never been a member of the PDP. It means that I was in the opposition for over 12 years. I understand the rights of members of the opposition and will never do anything to undermine such rights.
Has Tope Atte told the world how the remnants of PDP vandalized APC Campaign materials in Takete Ide and Orokere? Has he told the world how one Sunday Kayagba led ten PDP members to rally on the road and threatened to attack me?
The strategy of the PDP is to cause crisis in Takete Ide, knowing the Ward is one of the strongholds Of APC in the Local Government Area. It is my responsibility to keep our supporters at bay with the eye on the goal.
This morning, the same Sunday Kayagba was personally vandalizing APC Campaign materials. I told my supporters to leave him. Security agents should take note of this glaring provocation.
On our part as a party and as leaders, we will be loyal to unwavering commitment of our Principal, Governor Yahaya Bello to ensure peace before, during and after the election.
I urge our supporters to keep campaigning hard and sell our policies and programs. We won’t be drawn to their track of violence. I have not met Mr Tope Atte in the last few months.
Let me say clearly here that I do not need violence to win elections convincingly in Takete Ide. My connection with the people has always spoken for me. Mr Tope Atte should check his records: We won all the four elections in February and March without violence. We will win again on November 16; even better now that my leader, Hon. Eric Fiki has joined the party of the Progressives. PDP leaders in the Ward should stop the drumbeats of war. We want peace and we don’t want any harm to our people who have shown tremendous support for our brand of politics.
I will also urge Mr Tope Atte to read his fiction again and see the illogic in it. He should withdraw his malicious publication against my person and members of my family.
Legally and institutionally, we will protect our supporters’ right to franchise.
Let me also assure my supporters across the state that I am still the man of peace they know. I have forgiven Mr Tope Atte and his brother who threatened me via text messages. We are not cowards but we won’t sacrifice our position in the November 16 race. We will defend our people and defend our votes.
We love our respective communities and will continue to do our best for the people regardless of the position of a few people who want to call dog a bad name in order to hand it.
We come in peace, but we mean business.
Let’s Do More.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo
