2015: YERO CALLS FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGNS, CONDEMNS VIOLENT CONDUCT OF APC RALLY
By Alex Uangbaoje
Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has called on all supporters of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to remain calm and law abiding even in the face of intimidation and threats from supporters of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of Sole Administrators of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State Tuesday, Yero condemned the unwarranted harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens of Kaduna by supporters of the APC during a campaign rally held Monday.
The Governor said “I want to call on PDP supporters and indeed all affected residents of Kaduna to remain calm and not take laws into their own hands no matter the level of intimidation and harassment. We all witnessed what happened in Kaduna on Monday, where people hired by the opposition party went about harassing innocent citizens and destroying properties of the PDP. This is a clear attempt at throwing Kaduna into chaos.”
Governor Yero thanked the people of Kaduna State for ignoring the ‘agents of destruction’ saying rather than canvass for support peacefully and showcasing its manifesto for people of the state “leaders of the APC resorted to hiring people to intimidate innocent people. The people of Kaduna state are now better enlightened on the difference between a truly democratic party and one that is bent on taking power through violence.”
The Governor urge on the security operatives in the state to investigate the Monday’s incidence and ensure protection of the lives and properties of majority of the peace loving people of the state “because some people are desperate on capturing power not by the ballot but by the brutal use of thuggery.”
Yero also called on the newly appointed Sole Administrators to ensure peaceful coexistence in their domains adding that “you may recall that we had earlier scheduled this event for Monday, but to provide level playground for all parties, we shifted our event to today. It is unfortunate that rather than respect this gesture, the opposition instructed their supporters to attack our campaign tools and properties while also intimidating the peaceful people of the state.”
The Governor promised to ensure the safety of all citizens of Kaduna State and their property.
