Former minister and spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, has debunked claims that hate campaign by some members of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation caused the party’s defeat at the March 28 presidential election.
Mr. Fani-kayode, who served as Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan would have lost the presidential election by at least 10 million votes but for the intervention of his campaign team.
Mr. Jonathan lost the election by less than 3 million votes.
He was reacting to recent accusation by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) that the electoral misfortune that hit the party after the 2015 elections was due to hate campaigns by the party’s campaign organisation.
Mr. Fani-kayode, who described some members of the party’s NWC as “enemy within us”, alleged that two members of the committee were working for the opposition in the course of the election.
He described most members of the NWC as ignorant of party campaigns, adding that the campaign organisation “stood up for the party, fought for the President and did not betray the cause”.
While calling for the resignation of the NWC, Mr. Fani-Kayode defended the media strategy used by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.
He also exonerated the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State of blame in the loss of the party.
Mr. Fani-kayode said while President Jonathan was constantly under serious hostile pressure during the campaigns, the First Lady encouraged the organisation and inspired its members more than anyone else.
“I do not want to rock the boat out of respect for our President and our party elders; otherwise I would say a lot more that will shock the nation and the party faithful.
“I have a whole file on it which we compiled during the campaign. Two members of the NWC specifically were actually working for the APC and were on their payroll,” he said.
Their job, he added, was to destroy the PDP fortunes, expose its secrets, create discord in its ranks and undermine the efforts of the campaign organisation in the media campaign.
“That is just one shocker and there are plenty more. The time to talk is not now. That time will come.
“You will be shocked by what we know about these people and their sordid efforts to stop Jonathan and betray their own party.
“You will be shocked by what we know about these people and their sordid efforts to stop Jonathan and betray their own party.
“The truth is that the NWC has to go and I add my voice to that of Govs. Aliyu Babaginda, Sule Lamido, Ayodele Fayose and that of so many other people,” he said.
He added that there was need for a change at the top if the PDP was serious about forging party unity.
“This is critical to restoring its fortunes, redeeming it and winning the election in 2019.’’
“This is critical to restoring its fortunes, redeeming it and winning the election in 2019.’’
Mr. Fani-Kayode, who described the APC media machine as awesome, maintained that for the first time since the establishment of APC, they were put on the defensive by the PDP presidential campaign organisation.
He, however, added that the PDP “must remain free of acrimony, united and focused”, saying the party must “throw out the bad eggs in the NWC”.
“In order to survive over the next four years as a party, we must make the necessary changes at the top; otherwise we will be utterly decimated.
“The present leadership of the party, particularly its information organ, has no chance of standing against an APC Federal Government because they are weak and lack understanding and courage.
“They will be savaged beyond belief and torn apart if they try it because they do not have the stomach, the grit, the appetite or the wherewithal for a long drawn fight”, he said.
He held that instead of preparing to defend the party faithful and fortunes of its members over the next four years, they were making allegations and alienating many party leaders. (NAN)