Criticism Trails Gov. Fayose's Advert On Punch Newspaper

The Ekiti State Governor,
Ayodele Fayose, has come
under intense criticism for
placing an advert on the
front page of the Punch
newspaper suggesting that
the All Progressives
Congress, APC, presidential
candidate, Muhammadu
Buhari will die in office if
elected president.


The advert, which has the
pictures of, Murtala
Mohammed, Sani Abacha,
and Umaru Yar’Adua – past
Nigerian leaders who died in
office – is accompanied by
excerpt from the Bible book
of Deuteronomy 30 verse 19.
“Nigerians be warned!
Nigeria…I have set before
thee Life and
death.
Therefore, choose life that
both thee and thy seed may
live,” it said, suggesting that
Mr. Buhari represents death
while his rival, President
Goodluck Jonathan
represents life.


The advert put a huge
question mark over the
picture of Mr. Buhari, which
was placed beside the
pictures of the late leaders.
The advert then asked its
readers: “Will you allow
history to repeat itself?
Enough of State burials.”


Mr. Fayose then spurred
ethnic controversy that is
one of the divisive issues in
the run-up to the election
saying “Northern presidency
should wait till 2019.”
Many Nigerians have
expressed outrage at Mr.
Fayose and the Punch
newspaper for publishing
the advert with one social
media commentator
describing the ad as “crazy
and imbecilic”.


On Twitter, the advert was
condemned by both
supporters of Mr. Buhari
and President Goodluck
Jonathan, with many people
asking the president to
dissociate himself from the
advert. Others have also
criticised the Punch newspaper for
running the advert saying it is a display
of poor judgement even if not illegal.


“In the spirit of the peace accord signed
by presidential candidates, I plead with
President Jonathan to distance himself
from Fayose’s hocus-locus,” said
Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele
Momodu.


“That Fayose newspaper ad is up there
with the infamous #BringBackJonathan
… mindless, cruel and insensitive
drivel,” says a former member of House
of Representative Patrick Obahiagon.


“You win elections by campaigning not
by wishing death on an opponent. This
ad by Gov. Fayose is unacceptable and
ludicrous,” says Toyosi Akerele, a social
worker and a member of Mr. Jonathan’s
campaign team.


“Fayose utterances are regrettable. The
platform that showcased same are
equally to blame. You cannot in one
breath crucify Fayose for his despicable
thoughts while deliberately closing your
eyes to the silliness of @mobilepunch,”
said Blossom Nnodim, a social media
expert and supporter of President
Jonathan.


“My beef with this isn’t with Fayose but
with Punch. Even if legal, this is
unethical. It shouldn’t be all about cash.
Shame,” said Kadaria Ahmed, the former
Managing Editor of defunct NEXT
newspapers.


There have been speculations over the
health of Mr. Buhari, 72, following
claims that he slumped while
campaigning in Cross River State, and
that his speech sounded slurred during
the APC rally in Owerri, Imo State.
Last week, a diagnostic report
purportedly issued by the Ahmadu Bello
Teaching Hospital indicated that the
former military head of State has
advanced prostate cancer. The hospital
authorities have since denied issuing any
such report.


On Sunday, Mr. Buhari refuted the claim
he has cancer, saying he only had cold.
He said the People Democratic Party
(PDP) is sponsoring the reports about his
health and it indicates how desperate
they are getting in the run-up to the
election.


More Condemnations

A former acting National Chairman of
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and
now an APC member, Kawu Baraje,
described Mr. Fayose’s ad as
“distasteful”.
Mr. Baraje said in a statement that the
advertorial was capable of inducing
anarchy in the country.


He said he had expected that Mr. Fayose
would be more careful and outgrow “his
carelessness and irresponsible motor
park attitude which is not expected of a
governor.”


Mr. Baraje lamented that “the failure of
President Goodluck Jonathan and the
leadership of the PDP to distance
themselves from such comments and call
Mr. Fayose to order is a direct indication
that they were in support of Mr. Fayose
making a mockery of the dead and
trying to play God as only Allah is the
one that knows the time of the passing of
any individual.”