Group joins PDP to demand greater security for Atiku
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Face Of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to describe the attempted attack on Atiku Abubakar as a sign of a plot to assassinate him.
Both Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) are seeking the nullification of the election of Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), describing it as a “stolen mandate” which must be retrieved to ensure justice in the land, because Tinubu is a “fake President”.
In turn, Tinubu has warned of possible anarchy if his mandate is legally overturned. He gave the warning in his final written address at the PEPC, presented by his lead counsel Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
Way too many attacks on Atiku are targeted at preventing him from reclaiming the mandate rightfully handed to him by Nigerians, FOWN Director General Bukky Adeniyi alerted in a statement, according to The Guardian.
In his view, the attempt on Atiku’s properties in Adamawa brings to the fore the fact that his good fortune at the PEPC is “sending jitters down the [spine of] the Presidency.”
However, Atiku himself has commended the security agencies for foiling what would have been an attack on his Yola residence by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, according to a statement he issued through his Media Office.
“We wish to alert the Nigerian public that at about 9:44 pm on Sunday, July 23, 2023 a man seeking to confirm the residence of Atiku Abubakar in Yola was apprehended at the gate of the residence,” the statement recounted.
“The man, who was apprehended by security operatives at the residence of Atiku Abubakar, was later handed over to the police.
“Upon further interrogation by the police, the suspect identified himself as 29-year-old Jubrila Mohammed and confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in Borno State.
“The suspect also informed the police that he and his colleagues, who were later arrested too, intended to attack organisations associated with Atiku Abubakar and some other sensitive locations in Yola.
“All four suspects have been handed over to military authorities. We commend the police for the work they continue to do in this particular investigation. We further ask that other relevant security agencies remain on top of their brief.”
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PDP asks, is foiled attack part of a larger plot?
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba also expressed suspicion the attack could be part of a larger plot to frustrate its move to reclaim its “stolen” presidential mandate.
“The PDP insists that by the confession of the arrested assailants, the plot has the pawmarks of a sponsored attempt on the life of Atiku Abubakar, ostensibly by forces who are unsettled by his bid to retrieve his mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC),” Ologunagba said in a statement.
“Our Party believes that the intent of the sponsors of this evil plot is to silence our presidential candidate, massacre innocent Nigerians and cause chaos, confusion and anarchy in the polity.”
“The PDP asks, is this foiled attack on Atiku Abubakar and sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa connected to the recent APC’s threats of chaos and anarchy in the country, if the PEPC upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner?
“Could it also be a plan to orchestrate a sense of insecurity in the country, starting in Adamawa State, the home state of our presidential candidate so as to justify the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa State as a precursor to a declaration of a State of Emergency throughout the country?
“Our party charges the Inspector General of Police to take the lead provided by the confession of the assailants to track down their sponsors and bring them to book in the interest of the security, unity and wellbeing of our nation.
“The federal government has a duty and obligation to Nigerians and indeed, the whole world to ensure that the perpetrators of these dastardly act and their sponsors are brought to book.
“This particular investigation is important to the country because of the scope and dimension of the attempted attack.
“The PDP also calls on security agencies to tighten security around Atiku Abubakar and members of his family at this critical time in our democratic process.
“Our party commends the collaborative effort of the vigilant people of Yola, Adamawa State and security agencies in foiling the attack while urging Nigerians to remain calm and alert as the authorities commence investigation to fish out those behind this evil plot.”