The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that some of its key
members are currently been targeted and marked for death by the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
This was disclosed in a statement by Chief Olisa Metuh, the national
publicity secretary of the PDP in a press conference to address the
alleged assassination attempt on Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
Addressing newsmen, Metuh alleged that Ekweremadu was not the only PDP
member targeted, and other key members allegedly marked for death
include Uche Secondus, the acting national chairman of the party, Dr.
Haliru Bello, the acting national chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen
Godswill Akpabio, the Senate minority leader, and Hon. Leo Ogor, the
minority leader in House of Representatives, among others, Leadership
reports.
He said: “As you are aware, on Tuesday, November 17, there was brazen
attempt at the life of Ekweremadu on his way to work bringing to the
fore fears that the era of political assassination may have returned to
our dear country.
“We had also informed Nigerians that key PDP leaders were being trailed
and that the government should be held responsible should any of them
suddenly become victim of ‘terror attacks’, unexplained accidents,
kidnapped or suddenly killed by ‘armed robbers’.
“Nigerians are witnesses to the growing draconian proclivity of this
government, the increasing muzzling of opposition using security forces,
judicial persecution and other devious means aimed at decimating our
party to pave way for the imposition of one-party state, all in the
desperate bid by this particular regime to forcefully retain power in
2019.
“The PDP does not mince words in holding the APC responsible for the
Tuesday attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President. As you are
well aware, APC leaders have not hidden their bitterness and resentment
towards Senator Ekweremadu, whose offense is the privilege of being
elected as Deputy Senate President, in line with the Standing Rules of
the Senate and provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
“Is it not shocking that Senator Oluremi Tinubu , in furtherance of
their plan to take over the office of the Deputy Senate President, went
ahead at plenary today to occupy his seat and attempted to assume the
duties associated with that office
“Intelligence information available to us however indicates that Senator
Ekweremadu is not an isolated target, as notable PDP leaders, including
our Acting BOT Chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed, Acting National
Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo
and members of the National Working Committee, Senate Minority Leader,
Senator Godswill Akpabio, House Minority leader, Hon. Leo Ogoh among
others have also been penciled down for assassination.
“We have further information that some desperate power-mongers close to
President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly those privy to his interest to
contest the 2019 presidential election, and who have been reading his
body language against the opposition, have gone ahead to establish a
killer squad to wipe off strong opposition, deeming such a service to
the President.
“This killer squad, our intelligence further revealed, has key marksmen
recruited from within and outside the country with directives to trail,
track down and hit strategic opposition elements and instill fear among
PDP members.
“Additionally, we have verified reports from our elected members,
especially those in the National Assembly that agents of the APC and the
government have been approaching and threatening them to join their
party or face victimization should they refuse.
“We therefore want the international community to note this ugly
development in our country and hold the government responsible should
any unexplained harm befall any PDP leader. This government should be
held responsible should any PDP leader be visited by ‘armed robbers’.
“The PDP hereby draws the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to
this disturbing development as the onus lies on his to come our clear
and moderate the political temperature of the country by calling his
overbearing party members and security officials to orderMetuh also stated that the ordering of the arrest of the former national
security adviser (NSA) Sambo Dansuki, was based on the verdict of a
subjective administrative panel, which was present to indict him.
The PDP spokesman further warned about the manipulation of the Kogi and
Bayelsa governorship elections using the security forces and some
compromised INEC officials and called on the Directorate of Military
Intelligence to keep off issues concerning politicians.
According to him, the PDP has never raised any false alarm on national issues.
On Tuesday, November 17, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu, reportedly escaped a suspected assassination attempt.
Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate president’s spokesperson, said the
attempt occurred on his way to work at about 10am between Apo Flyover
and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank
of Nigeria headquarters junction.
The suspected assassins reportedly operated in a tinted white-coloured
Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number. The driver was a
long-bearded light skinned foreigner, probably a mercenary, Anichukwu
said.
Leadership
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