Former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi has warned River State ex-warlord Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo to stop peddling falsehood by implying that he (Makarfi) voted for All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
In a statement issued on behalf of Makarfi yesterday, his spokesman Alhaji Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo warned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to beware of such tactics aimed at de-marketing the party chieftain in favour of an unnamed political foe.
The statement said: “Ordinarily, this is a statement we shouldn’t dignify with a response, but realising that sometimes uncontroverted falsehoods have a way of taking a life of their own and also knowing that it is not beyond some unscrupulous politicians to splash mud on the integrity of others in order to gain undue advantage.
“That statement is false in all ramifications; in fact given that Makarfi is not an obscure politician, having been Kaduna State Governor for eight years and following that up with another eight year at the Senate and capping those up leading the PDP at a very tumultuous period, which was characterised by acrimonious leadership struggle.
“Isn’t it amazing that this could happen in 2015 and be buried till now?
“Moreover, from 1999 to 2015, Senator Makarfi never skipped voting in any election; yet he has never been reported by any medium to have ever displayed his ballot paper to advertise his preference; we leave this judgment to the people.”
It added: “Senator Makarfi has remained a PDP man to the core, sticking with the party through thick and thin and maintaining his faith in it, even at a time when defection was the easy way out.
“He has never hidden his gratitude to the PDP for the platform and opportunity it has afforded him to become what he has become and has never, for a second, on account of any slight he felt he suffered or for any other reason, even toyed with the idea of abandoning it let alone teaming up with others to bring it to ruination.”
Urging Asari-Dokubo to freely exercise his constitutional rights of free expression without maligning others unduly, Sirajo emphasised that PDP members should de-emphasise falsehoods and mudslinging and concentrate on relevant issues.
“Asari-Dokubo is a free Nigerian with all the attendant rights to pursue any legitimate undertaking, political or otherwise, including pitching his tent with any politician or tendency, but those do not include the fabrication and peddling of lies to impugn the integrity of others.”