Lagos Polls: Lai Mohammed, Gani Adams Tango over Violence

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams are in a war of words of over reported violence in Lagos State during last Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.
Alhaji Mohammed had raised the alarm on Friday following the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Lagos on the eve of the election wondering what was going on. The visit had raised concerns following President Jonathan’s meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Jimi Agbaje, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Adams.
But the OPC leader described Mohammed’s alarm as unfounded saying it was cheap propaganda wondering whether it was a crime for the president to meet with citizens of Lagos. In this interviews, both spoke more on their convictions.
VIOLENCE: We’ve been vindicated – Mohammed

How do you see reports so far?
We have reports of ballot box snatching in Ikorodu also, there was a skirmish between INEC officers and party agents and even in Oshodi, there have been some complaints as well as at Lagos Island. The last I got was from Surulere, where they allegedly went for the ballot box. Also in Ibeju Lekki, an INEC official was said to have been found with N100,000.

Comparing the governorship election with the Presidential election, Mohammed said:
It depends. Most of my reports are concentrated in a few states; Lagos, Rivers Akwa Ibom, Abia and mostly about the bad ones, where the INEC people come early, nobody reports it because its not news; where materials are not sufficient and I think there is a rampant report of electoral shift. On the balance, given the concentration of this malfeasance in Lagos, one may say it’s a bit alarming. We have about 3,000 polling units and if the report is about 300 while some are not reported, I think it is bad enough. There has been more violence, more incidence of ballot snatching than before.

On the President’s presence in Lagos:
Reuben Abati tried to debunk our story, but he did a very poor job because he admitted the president was in town and met with the people as we said and I don’t know where we went wrong. Whereas the President has the right to be anywhere in Nigeria, when he now comes to Lagos on the eve of the election and now met with these characters, of course, it won’t be too wrong to conclude as we did. And I think this is what is manifesting Don’t forget we spoke about gun running by PDP, we spoke about money being given, reports sheet being distributed and we also spoke about violence I think we have been vindicated largely about what is happening today.

On low turn out of voters:
What we were told is that people were more interested in Presidential election that governorship election and since the last election had been decided in one way, they felt every other thing was academic. Governorship politics is local and there is usually more turn out because lets face it, how many people Adamscan relate with the Presidential candidate whereas in each states there are governorship candidates and house of assembly candidates. It is strange there is a low turn out.

Violence: Count OPC out- Gani Adams
Our members have been given instruction to cast their votes and go back to their various homes. No member of OPC will be used as thugs or cannon fodders. That’s the standing instruction. What’s our interest? Our groups will not be used as thugs during the election. So, definitely, I think Lai Mohammed saw that something is coming, that is on of the reasons they are moving this unnecessary and uncalled for information. Last two weeks, they alleged that OPC members will put on army uniform to rig the presidential election in Ikorodu, but that did not happen in the presidential election. He made another allegation yesterday evening in a press statement, our editors should be very careful and balance their story when they see such statements from Lai Mohammed. Im here now, this place is peaceful, we have conducted our election, the result is out, nobody is involved in malpractices. When a principal of the organisation is not involved in rigging, who will take part, the followers will not be encouraged in rigging. Here, nobody is threatening anybody, so I don’t know where he got that information and I belief it’s a fallacy.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed alleged that OPC is intimidating voters and causing mayhem.

This allegation is coming 24 hours after we were shocked with an online strong allegation that Mr. President, myself, Obanikoro and Jimi Agbaje met. I belief that something is wrong with the position of Lai Mohammed because from the beginning of this election since January, Lai Mohammed has made 13 different allegations against OPC mayhemon negative information. And 99 percent of the information is not true. I wonder how you want to depend on propaganda to win an election. When you build a house on the basis of falsehood, there is no way that house can last in any society. You can judge by yourself here now, the votes have been counted, the result is out, nobody is fighting each other. From the information at our disposal, there is crisis affecting OPC, the crisis I heard is in Idi Oro that involved street urchins. Idi Oro is den of criminals and people of questionable characters, but OPC members are not involved in any crisis in Somolu. At the same time, I would use this opportunity to appeal to the public, they should not take Lai Mohammed serious. Most of the information he disseminates to the public is false.

Jonathan in Lagos?
How long will you continue to harass this man? What else do you want this man to do for you? He lost an election, before the announcement of result conceded to you? Buhari came to Lagos on Wednesday, he campaigned for APC openly, he went to Imo, he went to about 12 states between 24 hours, so what are you talking about. Are you saying Jonathan should not come to Lagos because he lost an election? Is Lagos State not part of the Federal republic of Nigeria? Does he not have the right to come to Lagos? Does he not have the right to meet his subjects again? Does he not have the right to do any activity as president? We cant be fooled. Why should you attack the president for meeting people? He has the right to summon anybody in this country to move this nation forward. in the process of handing over to Buhari, he has to consult. And what do you mean, are you saying the president should not meet the governorship candidate of APC in Lagos? Are you telling me the president should not meet Obanikoro, a minister in his cabinet? Are you telling me as a citizen of Nigeria, if Jonathan calls me, I should not meet him? Meeting Jonathan does not mean we should be involved in crime.
He is a friend, he is a brother and we have been in relationship since he was vice president. Even when he is no longer in power, I will never deny Jonathan in my life. I’m not a politician that when your friend lost and election, you will now take the winner as your friend. Anybody who relates well with me even in the past will always be my friend forever.