Fayose ‘attacked’ by PDP leader over “inflammatory” comments

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the 2023 election, Oladimeji Fabiyi, has said the younger brother of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, Issac, acted irresponsibly with his recent comments which he said is capable of causing disharmony and violence in Nigeria.

The Publisher Nigeria reports that Fabiyi in a statement on Saturday which he personally signed, said the alleged attempt by Isaac to set the Fulani ethnic group against other tribes in Nigeria should be condemned by all well-meaning citizens.

Isaac had repeatedly insinuated that the PDP presidential flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is tribalistic.

Earlier this week, he warned Nigerians of the former Vice-President’s ‘Fulanisation’ agenda.

Similarly, he said Atiku is planning to install Emirs in Southern Nigeria should he become president.

“It is unfortunate that the younger brother to Governor Fayose will make such irresponsible claim that makes the Fulani tribe or any other tribe for that matter seem like a threat to the peace and unity of this country,” Fabiyi frowned.

“It is understandable that Issac Fayose is playing politics with his claim and while he or anybody else holds the right not to want support the aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, it is grossly irresponsible to proceed by making claims that can potentially upset national peace and security as a political joker.

“We understand that there are few individuals in the PDP who, for one reason or another, feel that they have different ideas about the upcoming presidential election. But tagging Atiku Abubakar as an ethnic politician is the most irresponsible claim that anyone should make.

“For the purpose of setting the records straight, Atiku has benefit of more than three decades of experience as a politician; and all through no one person can claim that Atiku is a narrow minded or ethnically biased politician.

“In the aborted Third Republic, Atiku was part of the struggle to enthrone democracy and the heroic roles that he played in those years are there in the library of history for everyone to read through.

“In the current republic also, since 1999, Atiku has played active roles as a democrat and a broad minded politician. Any attempt by Issac and his paymasters to manufacture a new identity for Atiku against his record as an altruistic politician and statesman is bound to fail.

“It is regrettable that in the age when across the globe, the concept of developmental populism is what is driving politics, some unscrupulous elements in Nigeria, will not mind to throw caution overboard by making inflammatory claims that can disturb the peace and unity of our country.

“Therefore, it will be appropriate to call on intelligence and security operatives to interrogate individuals like Isaac who find it convenient to play politics on sensitive national security concerns.”