Fayose on his own, as PDP disassociates self from death-wish advert against Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has disassociated itself from Monday’s attack on All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, by Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, at a news briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Fayose`s views on Buhari were not representative of the PDP.

Fayose, it would be recalled, had opined that Buhari was deliberately planted as opposition presidential candidate to re-enact the crisis that trailed the sickness and eventual death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The governor had also alleged in an advertorial in some national newspapers that Buhari was not medically fit to rule Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode, however, stressed that Fayose was entitled to his views, adding that the party could only control what it said and not what its members said.

``Gov. Fayose is a distinguished leader of our party, a democratically elected governor and someone we have great respect and affection for and he released this advert in his name.

``Fayose never said that he was speaking on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, but for himself, and he said that he issued the advert in his name.

``That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to and not that of the presidential campaign organisation,’’ he said.

Fani-Kayode added that the campaign organisation believed in the sanctity of life and would never say a thing like what was published in the advertorial.

``Our president believes in the sanctity of the life of Gen. Buhari; we would not say such a thing,’’ he stressed.

He maintained that age was not an indication of how long somebody would live, adding that the PDP must continue to show immense respect for Gen. Buhari as a person and his 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,’’ he insisted.

He emphasised that the PDP did not in any way wish Buhari ill or dead.