The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to the attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari by Ayo Fayose, Ekiti state governor over lopsided appointments.
While Fayose defined the Buhari as running the country as if he was the president of northern Nigeria only, the president said the governor’s attacks were capable of generating ethnic clashes among the nation’s communities.
It should be recalled that the governor on August 31 said steps taken by Buhari since he was inaugurated were tainted with ethnic and tribal coloration, saying it was unfriendly to the unity of Nigeria.
However, the president answered strongly, rejecting the accusation, and advising Nigerians to be cautious of the tricks of Ekiti state governor and the Peoples Democratic Party, who he said are determined on regaining what they lost by stoking ‘ethnic and religious fault lines”.
Presidency said the governor’s outburst was discordant and threatens the unity of Nigeria.
Garba Shehu, presidential media aide, said President Buhari had been worried with the revival of the economy, securing the nation and ridding it of corruption.
He said Nigerian leader would follow these priorities and would not be distracted by unwarranted criticism.
“Nigerians are smarter than Fayose thinks. The Governor’s outbursts are intended to be a trigger for a clash between communities in areas where deliberate attempts had in the past also been made by the PDP to stoke ethnic and religious fault-lines,” he said.
“Our appeal to Nigerians is that they should ignore these tantrums. President Buhari is a healer not a divider.”
He added that Nigerians should see the recent appointments as one wave among the many that will come, stating that the next waves would come with thousands of new jobs.
“The President is conscious of the federal character and the requirements of balance in the constitution.
He will be guided by the constitution in making his appointments.’’
“Let me say at this stage that mere appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic will not give back to the PDP what they lost.
They seem to be making a dangerous calculation with their recent outbursts.
“The mere appeal to sectional and religious will not give the party its lost relevance or electability.”
President Buhari on August 27, has made more northern appointments that caused condemnation from Nigerians and prominent leaders of the country