PRESS STATEMENT: ANY ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT TODAY’S PEACEFUL APC CENTRAL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS WILL BE RESISTED
We, the concerned progressives and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, wish to inform the general public, security agencies, and the national leadership of our party that we will be holding a peaceful stakeholders meeting today to discuss the way forward for our party.
It has come to our knowledge that there are rumours of plans by a serving Senator and some undemocratic elements in his camp to send thugs to disrupt this legitimate and peaceful gathering.
We wish to make this abundantly clear:
*1. Our meeting is peaceful and lawful.* Every member of APC has the constitutional right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. No one can take that right away from us.
*2. We warn in strong terms:* Any person, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to disrupt, attack, or intimidate peaceful party members today will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order.
*3. We have alerted security agencies.* The Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, and other relevant agencies have been duly notified. We expect them to provide adequate protection and to arrest anyone who tries to cause violence.
*4. Violence is not progressivism.* The APC is a party of ideas, not thuggery. Anyone who resorts to thuggery to silence dissenting voices has lost moral legitimacy to lead.
Let it be known that we will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will not run away.
If you believe in democracy, allow people to meet and talk. If you believe you are popular, allow free debate. Only those who fear the truth resort to violence.
We call on all our members attending today to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, but to stand firm. Do not provoke anyone, but do not allow anyone to provoke you into abandoning your rights.
Oyo APC belongs to all of us, not to any individual.
*Any attempt to disrupt today’s meeting is an attack on democracy itself, and history will judge the sponsors harshly.*
We stand for peace. We stand for justice. We stand for progress.
Central Progressive Conference Committee
