PDP distance self form Fayose's controversial advert on Buhari

Few days after some Nigerian newspapers displayed advertisements sponsored by the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, warning Northerners not to support General Buhari at the forthcoming elections because he is too old to lead the Nigeria and the country has had enough of state burials, the Peoples Democratic Party has distanced itself from the message noting that it does nor represent the views of the party or its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said, “Governor Ayo Fayose is a distinguish leader of our party. A. democratically elected governor and someone we have immense respect and affection for and he released this advert in his own name. That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to.
“What I can tell you on our part as the Presidential campaign organisation is that it does not represents the opinion of the Presidential Campaign Organisation or indeed the President, it is his opinion, which he is entitled to and he is somebody that we have immense respect for, he is a leading member of the party, I have spoken with him and we respect him but for anybody to suggest that this is the position of the presidential campaign organisation or President Goodluck Jonathan, that will be most unfair.

“If we wanted to say something like that we will say it without any kind of apology but of course, we will never say that because we believe in the sanctity of life. Age is not a function of how long you will live.

“It is important that we recognise the fact that age is not an indication of how long somebody will live. We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect to the person of General Buhari,” he said.

The PDP spokesperson however said the party will continue to raise questions on issues of concern relating to Buhari’s health. “We believe it is important to always raise question about facts, you know what these questions are and we will continue to raise them. “We do not wish him ill, we do not wish him dead, we wish him long life and we believe strongly that such sentiment can be aired by individuals certainly not in our name.

“Fayose never said that he was speaking on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan but for his own self and he said that he issued it in his name. And I have emphasize that that is his opinion and he is entitled to it.”