By Augustine OsayandeAbuja — THE war-of-words over the health of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential election candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has taken a new twist with Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, calling on the party to apologise to the nation for misleading it on the former's status.
The governor, through a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said the opposition party must apologise for using pictures taken in Transcop Hilton, Abuja and claiming that the pictures were taken in London.
"Having lied so brazenly that Buhari granted interview in London, using pictures taken in Transcop Hilton, Abuja, it is obvious that the APC is a party of deceitful people that should not be taken seriously by Nigerians," the governor said.
He accused the opposition party of paying Chatham House to ensure their candidate appears in their programme.
"The Chatham House's one hour event scheduled for Thursday was paid for by the APC with the hope that Buhari will be well enough to appear in public briefly by Thursday. The Event's Contact person, Chris Vandome, confirmed via phone call that the event was 'Jointly Sponsored' by the APC and Chatham House," the governor said.
He said the opposition party was planning to "bombard" Nigerians with pictures of Buhari's one-hour appearance in Chatham House on Friday to cover up the real reasons he travelled to the United Kingdom.
"Hopefully, the APC expects to bombard Nigerians with pictures of Buhari's one hour appearance in Chatham House on Friday, using that to cover up the real reasons he travelled to the United Kingdom.
"However, we expect them to publish pictures of Buhari's departure from the Abuja Airport, Buhari queuing at the Airport to board his flight as they claimed, Buhari being interviewed by journalists at the airport, Buhari boarding his flight and waving at those who followed him to the airport and Buhari being welcomed at the airport in London."
Fayose said if actually Buhari travelled out of Nigeria under normal conditions, could he have passed through the Abuja Airport without any of the ‎aviation journalists interviewing him.
"So, those covering up Buhari's health issue should know that his paid appearance at Chatham House on Thursday will not do the Public Relation they are expecting.
"Rather, it will raise further questions which they can only answer by saying the truth and apologising for the lies they told," the governor said.
APC, in response has hit back at Fayose of "obsessing" over its candidate.
"Anybody who sees Ayo Fayose, the so-called governor of Ekiti State, should please beg him to see a psychiatric doctor before it is too late," APC said.