Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) must apologise for allegedly lying to Nigerians on the health status of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, using pictures taken in Transcop Hilton, Abuja and claming that they were taken in London.
Fayose said: “It was interesting that the APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, could develop cold feet and muscle such that he suddenly realised that he could not join issues with me.”
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “The Chatham House one hour event scheduled for Thursday was paid for by the APC with the hope that Buhari will be well enough to appear in public briefly by tomorrow.
“The events contact person, Chris Vandome, confirmed via phone call that the occasion was ‘jointly sponsored’ by the APC and Chatham House.”
The governor said, “having allegedly lied that Buhari granted interview in London, using pictures taken in Transcop Hilton, Abuja, it is obvious that the APC is deceiving the people.
“If APC says today is Tuesday, Nigerians should check the calendar to be sure.”
He hailed The Guardian for publishing an apology on Monday, on the false picture it used on Sunday, asking; “when is APC going to be humble enough to apologise to Nigerians.
“Hopefully, the APC expects to bombard Nigerians with pictures of Buhari’s one hour appearance in Chatham House on Friday, using that to cover up the real reasons he travelled to the United Kingdom.
“However, we expect them to publish pictures of Buhari’s departure from the Abuja Airport. Buhari, queuing at the airport to board his flight as they claimed, being interviewed by journalists at the airport, boarding his flight and waving at those who followed him to the airport and the flag bearer being welcomed at the airport in London.
“If actually Buhari travelled out of Nigeria under a normal condition, could he have passed through the Abuja airport without any of the Aviation journalists interviewing him?
“So, those covering up Buhari’s health issue should know that his paid appearance at Chatham House on Thursday will not do the public relations they are expecting. Rather, it will raise further questions which they can only answer by saying the truth and apologising,” the governor said.
