Date: 2014-08-04

Please permit me to begin this press conference with a quote by the father of Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, which goes thus: "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."

As Gandhi rightly stated, our party, the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State believes that the evil violence does is permanent and we have never hidden our hatred towards violence. All the good people of Kwara State are terribly worried about the violence, lawlessness, destructiveness, bloodshed, bloody attacks and criminal activities which the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched on Kwara State and her people in its desperation to cause anarchy, make Kwara state ungovernable and capture power through the back-door.

I have called this Press Conference to address the gravely challenges facing the good people of Kwara State as a people, our state as an integral part of Nigeria and our democracy as our hope, at this particular time.

After the failed attempt to instigated the impeachment of the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed as the PDP did in Adamawa State, events in Kwara State in the past few days point to a desperate attempt by the PDP and its sponsored political thugs to make Kwara State ungovernable through PDP-instigated political unrest and crises.

Daunted and frightened by the rising popularity and acceptability of the APC and the APC-led performing government in Kwara State as shown by Kwarans during recent town hall meetings, and the failure of its frivolous and inflammatory press statements to incite Kwarans against the government and the APC, the PDP which is renowned for thuggery and gangsterism has embarked on criminal activities.

As we speak, billboards with inscription of APC logo and imprint of APC manifestos sponsored by APC members and erected at the frontage of their houses and junctions of their streets in Ilorin metropolis have been massively destroyed by PDP thugs in a clear attempt to provoke retaliation from APC members in order to set the ground for its evil plot to burn Kwara State.

For the record, while the APC has no issue of violence, the PDP has fertile record of violence. The PDP has been indicted in all the fracas that have occurred in our dear state. It was PDP thugs that disrupted business activities and destroyed properties at Post Office, Taiwo Isale, Niger Road, Unity Road and other areas of the State on a Monday in protest to the failure of PDP Leadership to fulfil promises made to the thugs that were mobilized to a PDP rally held a day earlier and attended by President Goodluck Jonathan. It was PDP that held bloody congresses in Kwara State that led to loss of lives while many were left brutally wounded. It was a PDP chieftain and member of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Ilyasu Ibrahim and his son that were arrested with loads of ammunition. It was at the residence of former Kwara State PDP Caretaker Chairman, Solomon Edoja, that gang of PDP thugs were arrested with firearms and guns. It was the clash of PDP thugs at PDP senatorial meeting at Oro Lodo primary school, Omu-Aran, recently that resulted into violence at the entire stretch of the area. It was PDP thugs that terrorised the whole city of Ilorin and murdered innocent Kwarans due to mere controversies on the sharing formula of a largesse given to them by a PDP chieftain. PDP has boundless affinity for brutality, bloodshed and violence. The list is endless.

Kwarans have not heard the last of these criminal cases and we warn the Police Command not to sweep these pure criminal cases under the carpet. Kwarans deserve justice in the interest of peace in Kwara State.

Of note, before nocturnal and desperate politicians who parade themselves as PDP leaders started visiting Kwara State in preparation for 2015 elections, there was relative peace. Before the PDP gathered sworn enemies of Kwara State at Abuja to raise funds, thuggery was not well-funded. Does it mean that the funds have been channelled to thuggery?

The frustration of the opposition PDP has led to declaration of war on the people of Kwara State. If this violent trend is not arrested – it is capable of turning the state to a war-ridden zone.

Indeed maintaining silence in the face of the ceaseless violations of provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and violent attacks on APC members will amount to complicity in violence and lawlessness.

CONCLUSION:

"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind" - Mahatma Gandhi

We have raised the alarm several times that the PDP is desperate to make Kwara State ungovernable and this evil plot constitute a danger to our democracy and future. Today, we state that the PDP with the full support of Abuja politicians have perfected evil plans to burn Kwara State.

We encourage our members to be peaceful in the face of ceaseless provocations and intimidations by PDP thugs as the security agencies funded by tax payers monies are expected to swiftly arrest the ceaseless unfortunate bloody attacks on our party members.

We warn the PDP, in as much as, our party has never hidden our hatred for violence, there is no monopoly of violence.

We call on the Police Command to immediately arrest the PDP thugs and their Leaders while introducing proactive measures to curtail further attacks by the PDP thugs on APC members and the good people of Kwara State. All security agencies are alerted on the criminal activities of the PDP in Kwara State.

We call on all friends of Kwara State to advise the PDP and its leader to immediately halt further attacks on APC members.

Act now before it is too late!

Gentlemen of the press, thanks for listening.

Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani,
Chairman, All Progressives Congress,
Kwara State.