Nigeria’s minister of state for defence, senator Musiliu Obanikoro has debunked allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that persons purportedly loyal to him were responsible for the assassination of one Alhaji Azeez Asake who is a member of the APC.
The accusation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, September 21, 2014 and signed by Joe Igbokwe, the publicity secretary of the APC in Lagos statewhich read in parts: “After the PDP South-west Rally in Lagos yesterday one Alhaji Azeez Asake of APC was shot and killed by the notorious Abija group led by one Olokodana and Ade lawyer loyal to Senator Musliu Obanikoro.”
In his response, Obanikoro, via a press statement signed by Ohimai Godwin Amaize and dated on Monday, September 22, 2014 stated categorically that he and his supporters had nothing to do with the death of Asake in any way.
He stated that Igbokwe, the “story teller”, acting without common sense and logic wants the world to believe that Peoples Democratic Party supporters would kill an APC member hours after a successful and peaceful rally in the state of Saturday, September 20, 2014.
Rebuking him for not approaching the appropriate security authorities, “those who owe Lagosians an explanation over the murder of Alhaji Asake are the ones pointing accusing fingers at others.”
He further berated Igbokwe referring to the 2007 gubernatorial election when the minster contested as a malicious and mischievous ploy by the APC to drag the good name of the minister into a circle of dirty fighting, desperate and neanderthal brand of politics synonymous with the party.
Amaize also brings to mind events which unfolded in 2007, including numerous assassination attempts on Obanikoro’s person, who save for sheer divine providence and his bulletproof car, would have been killed. He pointed out one of such assassination attempts when shots were fired at a car occupied by Obanikoro and Demola Seriki, who is now with the APC.
Obanikoro said the desperate attempts by the APC to tarnish his image was starting to sound stale, adding that the character assassination antics of the Lagos APC spokesman brings to mind a quote in Macbeth by Shakespeare: “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Juxtaposing, he said Obanikoro urges his supporters to stay calm, peaceful and obey the rule of law unlike the barbaric, thuggish and violent demeanor usually employed by the APC in the state, commending PDP supporters for their large turn in welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to the PDP Lagos south west rally on Saturday, September 20, 2014.
In conclusion, Obanikoro enthused his belief that the security personnel would fish out those responsible for Asake’s death, praying that his soul finds eternal rest.
