Ekiti Rigging Tape: Jonathan May Have Something To Hide – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as untenable the statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan as the reason why the Ekiti rigging audio tape has not been investigated. According to the party, the President’s waffling on the issue shows he may have something to hide.

The APC, in a statement issued in London on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the President was wrong to have said the rigging audio tape had not been investigated because the army captain who leaked it had not come forward to authenticate it.

The party wondered whether the President’s position would have been the same if the tape had revealed that the APC colluded with the military to rig the Ekiti election in favour of the APC candidate.

“Some people were found to be undermining democracy using a powerful national institution like the military, and all the President could say is that there will be no investigation until the officer who secretly recorded the tape has come forward to authenticate it. What a disingenuous argument!
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“​Is the President not aware that Capt. Sagir Koli, who recorded the tape, went into hiding because his life was in danger?
​Is the President not aware of the fate that befell Capt. Koli’s 15-year-old younger brother who was ​arrested and tortured at a military facility in Ibadan over the issue?

“Does the President ​not appreciate the patriotism which the officer exhibited by exposing those who criminally subverted democracy?” the party queried.

It wondered on what basis the President declared the audio tape a fabrication when he has now confessed that he has not even listened to it, and when almost all those who were at the rigging meeting, including Musiliu Obanikoro, Ayodele Fayose, Jelili Adesiyan and Iyiola Omisore, have now owned up to attending the meeting.

“Unless President Jonathan is afraid of what an investigation into the tape may reveal, he should be in the forefront of those calling for an investigation. This is because, according to the major players in the rigging tape, the Ekiti rigging assignment was done expressly in the name of the President.

“Obanikoro invoked the President’s name, saying he sent him to clinch victory for the PDP in the Ekiti governorship election. Unless the statement made by Obanikoro is true, the President has no business seeking to delay, even for one day, the investigation into the very serious allegations contained in the tape. The presence of Capt. Koli is not a necessary pre-condition for an investigation into the rigging allegation.

“We are therefore repeating our call for an urgent investigation of the Ekiti rigging audio and at the same time demanding that all those who are found to have willfully subverted democracy be tried for treason. For the avoidance of doubt, no matter how long it takes, we will ensure that all those involved in the Ekiti show of shame are brought to justice,” APC said.