TheCable

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari will not persecute anyone, contrary to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday.

Jonathan had urged his ministers and aides to prepare for hard times, as he expects them to be persecuted, but APC has said that only the guilty need to be afraid.

But Lai Mohammed, national publicity secretary of APC, issued a statement in Abuja on Monday to say that those who had played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.

“That the president-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes,” the statement said.

“However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians.”

The APC said that under the climate of change that Nigerians had ushered in with their votes, “only the guilty needs to be afraid, and those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves”.

“The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” party said.

It wondered why the president chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the president-elect.

“Since the presidential election was won and lost, the president and the president-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings?” the APC questioned rhetorically.

“Even if the two have not met, the president could have reached out to the president-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy.”

The party insisted that “the priority of the incoming government would be the welfare and security of the long-suffering people of Nigeria, and enjoined all citizens to support the administration in charting a new path for the country – away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years”.