An advertorial entitled: NIGERIANS BEWARNED!, sponsored by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and published yesterday on the cover of two national dailies, has introduced a dangerous dimension into the presidential election campaign.

In the advertorial, the author asked Nigerians not to vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who in his wisdom is too old for the exalted office.

Besides, Fayose alleged that three former leaders, who hailed from the Northwest of the country died in office, saying the country could no longer afford state burial. The governor listed Gen Murtala Mohammed, Gen Sani Abacha and Alhaji Musa Yar’Ardua as former heads of state, who died in office.

But a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, described the on-going campaign against Gen. Buhari as worrisome. He said the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has gone berserk.

The ACF had an ally in a former PDP governorship aspirant in Kaduna State, Shuaibu Idris Mikati , who said the campaign of death-wish by the PDP against Gen Buhari has done incalculable damage to whatever chances President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP may have had have in the North.

Sani and Shuaibu spoke with The Nation in separate chats.

Shauibu, who has not defected from the PDP, described the advertorial credited to the Ekiti governor governor as “most reckless, unwarranted and uncharitable.”

According to him, it was unfortunate that the governor Fayose embarked on such a devilish analysis aimed at denigrating the Northwest region, stating that his action smacks of desperation and lack of the fear of God.

He said: “Governor Fayose’s advertorial is most reckless and unguarded. He has forgotten that no human has control over death. Only yesterday, I attended the burial of a two-year-old child, yet it was not the wish of his parents that he should die.

“Now, we have a governor in modern day Nigeria, talking about the death of former leaders as if he himself has control over death. This is quite absurd and unfortunate. “

Also speaking, the ACF spokesman described the campaigns against Gen. Buhari as worrisome and unfortunate. He urged politicians to keep to what they know instead of telling lies about the health and certificate status of Gen. Buhari.

Sani said: “The allegations about certificate and ill-health against Gen. Buhari by the opposition party is worrisome in the sense that the campaigns should assume responsibility for issues that are of real concern to Nigerians instead of dwelling on irrelevance and things that do not matter.

“Happily enough, both Professors Itse Sagay and Tam David West have said the courses attended and the public offices held by Buhari are over and above the educational requirements being demanded by the constitution.

“Also Ahmadu Bello University has put health matter to rest by saying the documents being circulated about the General’s health status are fake. So, as the politicians canvass for votes, they should keep to what they know”, Sani said.