I am not in Lagos to manipulate election~ Jonathan to APC

Goodluck Jonathan wondered why he would rig the governorship election

for the PDP when he did not rig the March 28 presidential election in

which he was a candidate.

Jonathan's position was contained in a statement made available to

journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben

Abati.

Abati said there was nothing unusual in people paying homage to the

President when he is on a visit to Lagos or any other part of the

country.

He said the APC spokesman lied as usual and was rude to insinuate that

Jonathan met with people in Lagos for the purpose of rigging the poll.

Abati said Muhammed and his paymasters were only cooking up

meaningless tales in order to change the commendation Jonathan had

received across the globe for conceding defeat in the presidential

election.

He said, "Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that the President came to

Lagos to rig the governorship and House of Assembly elections

scheduled for Saturday, April 11. He is of course lying as usual.

"President Jonathan visited Lagos. He arrived on Thursday and left on

Friday. People visited him. So what? Anytime the President is in Lagos

or any part of the country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him.

"Nothing unusual happened during his last visit to Lagos. Senator

Musiliu Obanikoro's visit to the President in Lagos is not something

that anybody should use to play politics. Obanikoro is a Minister of

the Federal Republic. He came to see his boss.

"Mr. Jimi Agbaje is the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos

State. I don't see how his visit to the President, who is also the

leader of his party, should become an issue.

"Yes, Gani Adams also visited, but so did a lot of other people."

Abati added that the President did not hold meetings with the

Independent National Electoral Commission officials neither did he

meet with the police, polling officials or with anybody who is

involved in organising elections.

He said to claim that the President went to Lagos to supervise the

rigging of today's election was most uncharitable and cruel.

Abati said, "After the presidential election, the President

immediately congratulated Gen. Buhari and the whole world has

commended him for saving Nigeria.

"President Jonathan's sportsmanship, statesmanship and leadership

saved this country at that critical moment. He has demonstrated his

commitment to free and fair election, the rule of law and due process.

He has shown that he is a man of character, honour and integrity.

Nigerians generally are proud of him.

"He has left a worthy legacy and shown a great example. That,

obviously, is the narrative that Lai Muhammed and his masters want to

change, so they are now cooking up meaningless tales.

"Lai Muhammed should look for another target and leave the President

alone. His fatuous tale does not make any sense. I repeat: we will

like to advise that the APC should just leave the President alone."

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