He said that Dr Ganduje believes in the practice of democratic principles and ideals just as he remains unshakable in his dedication to Nigeria as a nation.
Chief Okpala was reacting to recent criticisms by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and other opposition parties over an alleged usage of the expression “APC will capture two other states after Ondo” credited to Dr. Ganduje at a recent stakeholders meeting of the APC in Ondo state.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP , Mr. Debo Ologunagba had in a statement portrayed Dr. Ganduje as an undemocratic personality , claiming that the APC National Chairman does not believe in the tenets of democracy and the rule of law .
But Chief Okpala in the statement wondered how those who have never really occupied elective positions of honour in the country could describe a man who has twice, contested and won the governorship of a great state like Kano through a democratic process, as not being a true democrat.
He maintained that even before the present democratic dispensation, Dr. Ganduje had contested and won important positions in reputable political organisations like the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN.
The Senior Special Assistant described the statement by the PDP as the rantings of an organisation sunk in the political ocean of misery and rudderlessness.
He said the PDP was a party in crisis that can not put it’s house in order, therefore unable to see clearly .
He described Ologunagba’ s attack on Ganduje as a clear show of ignorance and deep inadequacy in the terrain of language proficiency.
“It is shameful that Ologunagba and other PDP cheiftains are angling for Ganduje’s Jugular over a simple comment portarying the desire of the APC to win the South West states into its fold. What is wrong with that?
“Ologunagba and his party are only crying because of the imminent defeat starring them in Ondo just like they were roundly beaten in Edo.
According to him, “It is important to note that the word capture allegedly used by Ganduje is not negative on its own, but the PDP attack dogs have added “Forcefully” to it in an attempt to mislead the public.
“Ganduje never used the word forcefully and this kind of mischief is what these misguided PDP hawks are known for.
“Nigerians have not forgotten how the PDP , during its days in power threw caution to the wind and sought to stiffle all opposition and destroy the nation’s democracy right from 1999 till 2015 when they were roundly rejected by Nigerians.
“It was in those PDP days that they conceptualised and practiced “DO – OR – DIE” politics.
“We did not only hear it, we saw it live, with brazen effrontery. APC can never subscribe to that.
“The PDP cannot now try to wear Ganduje and the APC that toga of political gangterism and despiration that the PDP is known for.
“The ghost of political debauchery and intollerance are still hunting the PDP till today. Trying to hang their evil toga on Ganduje will not exorse their party of that demon”
Chief Okpala said “Dr. Ganduje is a first class democratic and a true believer in democratic principles”
He emphasized that if a list of the first 100 democrats in the country is drawn, Dr. Ganduje would appear amongst the prime 5 by merit and credentials .
“The APC believes in democratic processes and it is commited to the tenets of democracy . And that reflects in its internal democratic process which made it possible for its candidates to always emerge through transparent primary election processes just like the recent ones in Edo and Ondo state that would be having election soon.
“In Ondo the primary was seamless and credible which produced Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa.
“So they are giving a wrong and twisted narrative of the alleged comment of Dr. Ganduje.
“While he spoke in a metaphorical sense, they seek to twist his comment to achieve their sinister motive. Do we have to send Ologunagba and his likes back to school to undergo basic literary studies?
“This has become imperative because if a spokesman for a national party cannot understand the fluidity of language , the use of metaphors, hyperboles, onomatopoeia and simile, then it is most troubling .
“Need I teach Ologunagba that there are metaphoric expressions that bear different connotations outside the shallow meanings, especially in the political terrain.
“The arena of politics is not the field of botany which is the study of plants. It is the dynamic field of political play with all its profoundness both in language and actions. I recommend that Ologunagba should go back to school.
“I am even more shocked that he is a lawyer , who should have taken literature at O levels.
“Even the dictionary meaning and interpretation of the words in question does not connote negativity as the PDP would want us to believe.
“Clearly , Ologunagba should go and study well and understand comparisons, illustrations and metaphors”
