PDP slams ACN governors over June 12 celebration

By Lere Olayinka

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has described the celebration of June 12 by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors as blatant and shameless display of hypocrisy.

PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade said in a statement issued today that "rolling out drums and wasting public fund on media exaltation and ugly lectures in the name of June 12 cannot cover the hatred the ACN has for MKO Abiola's family, legacies and ideals."

The statement read; "Today, they are celebrating June 12. They have declared public holiday. They are making beautiful speeches. Yet, these same people were the ones, who protested the loudest when University of Lagos (UNILAG) was renamed Moshood Abiola University, Lagos?

"They were the ones, who denied MKO Abiola's son a House of Reps ticket in Ogun State.

"Instead of Jamiu Abiola, they awarded their party ticket to Osoba's son!

"Shouldn't they have allowed MKO Abiola's son to participate in a free contest? He was simply shut out. Even when he was ready to subject himself to a primary election, they said no and selected Osoba's son!

"Yet, they say they love MKO Abiola, and we ask, what have they done for MKO Abiola's family, legacies and ideals since they assumed office?

"Would Abiola have sacked workers the way they have done? Would Abiola have destroyed people's houses and shops without paying compensation? Would Abiola have made his wife chairperson of government agencies as done in Ekiti State by Governor Kayode Fayemi? Would Abiola have sacked doctors, Local Government workers for protesting against the government? Would Abiola have used thugs to disrupt opposition parties programmes?

"Is June 12 about denial of rights to vie for party tickets? Would there have been a June 12 for them to celebrate if MKO Abiola had been denied the rights to participate in an open primary election as the ACN did to his (Abiola) son?

"These characters should just stop mocking God and assaulting our collective sensibilities. They should start using the name of their corrupt Lagos based Governor-general to seek public support instead of clinging on the good names of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola."