Date: 2014-08-29

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara State chapter has declared that it will not fold its arms and permit the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with its legendary record of violence, to burn Kwara state, and turn around to blame everyone except itself.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the APC said, "the speedy prosecution of PDP leaders and thugs, who have either been arrested and granted conditional bail or still under arrest in connection to violence and criminal activities, by the Police Command will ultimately reduce the spate of violence in Kwara State".

The APC said, "barely 24 hours that it alerted the Police Command and the general public on how an undemocratic bid by Abuja PDP politicians to impose party executives on its few members in Ilorin West local government led to the disruption of commercial activities plus break down of law and order by rampaging PDP thugs at Ilorin metropolis on Tuesday, the remorseless PDP thugs have once again attacked government officials, APC Chieftains and youths at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Kwara State government at Ajase-ipo in Irepodun Local Government, on Wednesday.

"The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has not declared his intention to seek re-election in office, so there was no way his 2nd term ambition could be heating up the polity as mischievous opposition elements have been peddling around.

"In recognition of the fulfilment of electioneering promises made by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2011, organisations, youth groups, community leaders, women groups, artisans, market women, civil servants, drivers' union, musicians, Kwarans in diaspora and the good people of Kwara State have urged him to seek re-election in office but Mr Governor is yet to either accept or decline the popular call for his re-election by Kwarans.

"In the history of political parties in Nigeria, the violent PDP is the worst circumstance that has ever happened to a people. It is extremely worrisome that Kwara PDP sent its political thugs to Ajase-Ipo to disrupt the Town Hall meeting organised by Kwara State government and consequently issued a press statement to express its "delight" that the disruption of the Town Hall meeting by PDP thugs left many APC chieftains and youths gravely wounded. Justification of violence under any guise like the PDP did is unacceptable to the APC and the peace-loving people of Kwara State. Nothing better perfectly captures Kwara PDP as an extremely violent group than the inglorious press statement the PDP issued to celebrate violence and the activities of PDP thugs. Absolutely unacceptable.

"All households in Kwara State are aware of the violent antecedents and tendencies of the PDP, the PDP should be bold enough to face the consequences of its actions instead of trying to confuse Kwarans with lies. The APC will not relent in its commitment to raise alarm whenever and where ever the peace of Kwara State is either threatened or attacked by the desperate PDP.

"We wonder why PDP should result to heightened violence due to its glaring failures in the just concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The PDP knows it can not win any election in Kwara State with its few members. And quite unfortunate for the PDP, its affinity for violence can not save it from colossal defeat in the 2015 general elections. The PDP is yet to answer the many questions Kwarans have raised: why is the PDP desperate to rig election in Kwara State even when it is clear it lacks the capacity and the required following in Kwara State? Why is the PDP in love with violence? Why should the PDP shamelessly celebrate its legendary record of violence? Does it mean the PDP is proud to be a violent party? Must PDP maim and kill because of desperation for power? Enough is Enough.

"As 2015 election draws nearer, the PDP has shown its capacity and readiness to overthrow the Kwara State government through violence and blood-letting, we call on the Police Command to probe the increasing violence in Kwara State which is obviously traceable to the violent PDP.

"We reiterate that the capacity of the Kwara State Police Command to curtail violence is been challenged now, graver than ever, by the heavily-armed PDP thugs.", the statement read.