The Transformation Ambassadors of
Nigeria, TAN, has said it has no apology for organising zonal rallies urging
President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election.
The group said it has not offended
any Nigeria law by holding the rallies and that the attack by the All
Progressives Congress, APC, on its activities was misplaced.
It asked the party to look inward if
its activities were causing discomfort in the camp of the opposition.
A statement by the APC spokesperson,
Lai Mohammed, Wednesday, had praised Mr. Jonathan for ordering the removal of
the #BringBackJonathan2015, a mock hashtag of the #BringBackOurGirls that has
helped drawn global attention to the fate of the Chibok girls abducted by Boko
Haram in April.
The APC however asked the president
to also order TAN to halt its rallies. Many Nigerians have condemned the group
over its political campaigns at a time Nigeria faces an Ebola outbreak and a
serious security trouble.
Stating that the country was in a
state of anarchy, the APC said, “Therefore this cannot be the time for
festivities and celebrations, the type being orchestrated by the government
under the TAN banner. The rallies insult the troops who are battling Boko
Haram. The rallies insult Nigerians who are fervently praying for the unity of
the nation in the face of the madness by the marauders. The rallies offend the
sensibilities of the families of our citizens who are being mowed down daily by
Boko Haram. They must stop forthwith.”
However, in a statement by its
Director of Communications, Udenta Udenta, on Thursday, TAN said Mr. Mohammed
exposed the APC’s double standard when he found the group’s citizens’
sensitization rallies uncharitable 24 hours after his party held an unvarnished
political rally in Sokoto State.
It said, “As a non-governmental
organization properly registered by Corporate Affairs Commission to carry out
specific responsibilities in the ongoing political re-engineering in the country,
TAN has not in any way gone outside the law to warrant APC’s indecorous
language.
If the impact of TAN is causing some discomfort to the opposition party in its
desperation to grab power, it should look inward and not engage in mindless
attacks.
“Was the country not in a war as APC
claimed, when it embarked in the Sokoto rally? Has Ebola virus suddenly
disappeared in the country that enabled the Sokoto rally to take place?
“Where and how did Lai Mohammed
arrive at his conclusion that TAN’s rallies are offending the sensibilities of
the families of our citizens and knows that Sokoto rally did not? Why did APC
hold the Sokoto rally when the Chibok Girls are yet to be released and Boko
Haram is not defeated?”
TAN, which has held the rallies in
the South East and South West geo-political zones, explained that it is not a
political party and would ordinarily not engage in diatribes with any political
party or group. It however said it would not watch truth being turned upside
down in the name of politics.
The group added, “We really have no
apology to offer to anyone in our mission of showcasing the verifiable landmark
achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan. We expected the opposition to
fault us on that score but because of the dearth of evidence against what we
are heralding; they now choose to chase shadow by dishing lies to Nigerians.
“Because TAN by its vigorous
activities is not letting APC realize its desired ambition of making sure that
all achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan are drowned in its negative
politics and insipient media, it now feels it can turn the heat on us. TAN
certainly would go to any length to defend its legitimate role in the polity
and would not shy away even if it means confronting and exposing APC’s
anti-democratic behaviour.
“The innovation that TAN is bringing
into the nation’s political space should attract positive comments to
discerning minds. If anybody is uncomfortable, it must be based on selfish
ground.”
TAN also said that since its
inception, it has maintained a positive attitude and disposition towards all
Nigerian institutions and platforms in a single-minded celebration of the
Nigerian possibility under President Jonathan’s watch, devoid of rancour,
strife, bitterness and discord by its callous abandonment of the tenets of
decency and respect that ought to govern the public advocacy space through its
revolting diatribes and unconscionable attacks against it.
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