APC: NIMASA behind Anti-Buhari Adverts
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO) Friday accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) of sponsoring a hate campaign against its presidential candidate, Maj- Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
In a statement yesterday, said that the organization has evidence and has confirmed that NIMASA was indeed the sponsor of all the documentaries against Buhari on media platforms.
According to the director of media and publicity of APCPCO, Malam Garba Shehu, the development contravenes the NIMASA Act, Public Service Regulations, and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. APCPCO said if the claims were to be true by the Joint Committee, disciplinary action should be taken against the agency and its leadership.
“It is not enough for President Jonathan to claim he doesn’t know the sponsors of smear adverts if he lacks the courage to punish them once they are exposed,” Shehu said.
NIMASA responded by its deputy director/head of public relations, Isichei Osamgbi saying: “The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as an agency, and its Director General, Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi have never been involved in any form of campaign against any politician nor sponsor same.”
"It is unfortunate that the authors of that statement and their agents are only attempting yet again without success to discredit the agency, having failed in doing so through the malicious lies on the purchase of the operational vessels and attempt to discredit NIMASA success story which is currently training over 2,500 young Nigerians as seafarers.
"We are only a government agency doing our normal statutory duties as a maritime regulatory agency and proud of our achievements which have been globally acclaimed."