Branding Nigerians as 'necessary evil' for rejecting APC is unpresidential — PDP blast Buhari

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to apologize to Nigerians for branding residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as “necessary evil” for rejecting APC in the February 23 Presidential election.

The party in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that branding Nigerians as such for rightly exercising their rights is completely unpresidential and must be condemned by all.

The party laments that the statement of Mr. President was inciting, divisive and capable of demonizing innocent compatriots and setting them up for victimization by overzealous agencies.

"President Buhari should note that he was not only rejected by FCT residents but also by an overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the states of the federation, who voted massively for the PDP, only for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to subvert the will of the people in his favour; consequent upon which our party and presidential candidate have headed for the retrieval of this stolen mandate at the tribunal.

"Furthermore, the PDP criticized President Buhari for stating that “to make FCT secure is to make myself secure and the Vice President”.

"The party holds that it is the duty of the President to provide security for all parts of the country, irrespective of where he and the Vice President reside or how Nigerians cast their votes.

"The PDP maintains that the security of lives of all Nigerians, ought to have been paramount to the President and not determined by inessential factors, if indeed he has the interest of the people at heart.

"The PDP therefore calls on President Buhari to apologize to Nigerians for this divisive comment.

"The party also urges Nigerians to continue in their determination to retrieve the stolen Presidential mandate at the tribunal, so as to have an administration that truly cares for the citizens, in line with the provisions of our laws.