Segun Atanda/
Former President of Civil Liberties Organisation, Ms Ayo Obe, has faulted the non-involvement of Mr Jimi Agbaje in political activities since he won the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship ticket for Lagos State.
Obe was reacting to a tweet by Agbaje that his silence since his emergence as the PDP candidate for the 2019 election was in deference to rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission guiding political campaigns.
While faulting Agbaje’s position, Obe queried how his not being in the news and his failure to comment on current issue or engage with the electorate through the various online platforms equal complying with campaign regulations.
Obe warned Agbaje that the electorate would soon forget he is a candidate in the election if he continued the same way.
Obe’s tweet, on the handle @naijama, reads: “Define ‘campaigning’.
Being in the news, having your cyber warriors discuss you and your achievements, commenting on current affairs, accepting speaking invitations etc. Are these campaigning?
Mr. Agbaje should come up with a better excuse before people forget he’s even running.”
The tweet by Agbaje, on the handle @jimiagbaje, which had sought to justify his silence, reads:
“Good morning Lagos, my team and I have gotten a barrage of questions asking why I haven’t been actively campaigning in public and I think it’s about time that we addressed it.
“Let’s be clear, the INEC rules guiding this election unequivocally state that campaigning for the 2019 gubernatorial elections shall not begin until the 1st of December, 2018.
“In their words – not mine – and I quote, ‘For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party (not just candidates) shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day’.
“Now if that is the rule, then we have no choice but to abide by it – even if it might sound unpopular to do so. And quite frankly, what precedence would we set if we are not keeping to the rules of competition.
“To my supporters and well-wishers, I understand that we’re anxious to get this campaign on the road, but it’s important that we are also mindful of the bigger task ahead – which isn’t just about winning an election but about changing mindsets and sending a strong message across Lagos that under our watch, it wouldn’t be business as usual.
“If our goal is to bring reform and order to governance in Lagos, if our mission is to fundamentally transform the way government works for the greater good of our people and not a few vested interests, then we must begin by setting an example by obeying instructions.
“So I implore everyone to please hold on to those wonderful banners, posters and boards until the 1st of December. Let’s win this one again, the right way.”
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