…Atiku/Okowa campaign group calls for prosecution of Kaduna, Borno, Gombe attackers
…NPS asks IGP to restore security personnel withdrawn from Zamfara guber candidate
NOSA EGHAGHA
Following increasing spate of attacks on candidates and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and alleged clampdown on party loyalists in Zamfara State, the party wants President Muhammadu Buhari; National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba to take action in the interest of the nation’s democracy.
The party demanded prosecution of persons responsible for attacks on PDP campaign train and supporters during presidential campaign rallies in Kaduna, Borno and Gombe States.
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation specifically urged the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Mohammed Monguno, to further reassure Nigerians in the battle against political thuggery, by intervening to ensure that those who attacked its rallies are brought to justice.
The Campaign commended the NSA for his stance against state governors, as well as politically intolerant politicians, who engage in mobilising thugs to attack the campaigns of rival political parties, as witnessed in the attack of the PDP Presidential campaign rallies in the three states.
Spokesperson of the Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Friday in a statement, said:
“The Atiku/Okowa Campaign holds that bringing those who attacked our rallies in Kaduna, Borno and Gombe to book will reassure Nigerians and serve as very strong deterrent to perpetrators of electoral violence and their backers.
“Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Campaign had been at the receiving end of violators in spite of the decent campaigns of Atiku.
“It is therefore imperative to state that unless those responsible for the violence against our campaigns and supporters are made to face justice, even the warning by the NSA will not be taken seriously by the perpetrators.”
The Campaign, however, urged Nigerians to remain focused and undeterred in their resolve to vote in Atiku Abubakar as the next President of our country so that he can commence the onerous task of rebuilding the nation “from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Addressing a press conference at the PDP national secretariat yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba alleged that aside clamping down on party stalwalts, Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle has been intolerance of the opposition, particularly the PDP.
He said Gov Matawalle and the APC being intimidated by the soaring influence of the PDP in the state has engaged state security apparatus in clamping down on PDP members with some already arrested while security details of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal has been withdrawn.
Stressing that the nation’s democracy and the 2023 General Elections are under attack, the NPS accused the Matawalle – led APC government in Zamfara State of
scaling up its vicious assault and clampdown on PDP candidates and other patriotic Nigerians in an attempt to silence PDP leaders.
He alleged that the Governor Bello Matawalle-led APC administration in Zamfara State “has reportedly set up a killer squad in connivance with some elements in the Police” which has commenced a brutal crackdown, arrest and detention of notable PDP leaders in Zamfara State based on unfounded allegations as part of APC’s plot to harass PDP leaders and other dissenting voices in the state.
He said “the PDP has information of how the PDP Senatorial Candidate and Director-General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Zamfara State, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Captain Bala Mai Riga and other notable members of the PDP were hounded, arrested and illegally held in dehumanizing detention facilities by the Police reportedly on the orders of Governor Matawalle.
“Our Party has also been made aware of plots by the Gov. Matawalle-led APC administration to arrest and detain the PDP Governorship Candidate in Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal.
“We alert Nigerians that the security operatives attached to Dr. Dauda Lawal have been withdrawn reportedly on the orders of Governor Matawalle.
“Our Party believes that this action by the APC is a deliberate design to expose our Governorship candidate to harm’s way and undermine his ability to campaign and engage the good people of Zamfara State on his security and economic agenda for the State in line with the PDP’s mission to Rescue and Rebuild our country.
“Also marked for arrest and detention are Zamfara State PDP Acting Chairman, Mukhtar Lugga, serving members of the National Assembly; Hon. Suleman Gummi, Hon. Shehu Fulbe and other leaders such as Col. Bala Mande, Salisu Maibuhu Gummi and Ahmed Garban Yandi in a heinous plot to put them out of circulation ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Other notable PDP leaders reportedly listed for arrest include Farouk Rijiya, Abubakar Rawayya, Zangina Abdullahi, Mugira Yusuf, Usman Danmasani Nahuche, Yarbachaka Haruna, Bashir Shehu, Usman Mafara, Ahmed Mairiga, Col. Yandoto, Nagambo Anka, Comr. Sale Maradun, Abba Oando, Suleiman Bukuyum, Rabiu Ilili Bakura, Mani Kotorkoshi, Maryam Buba, Abdulmajid Anka, Zayyanu Gusau among others who are now being hounded by APC agents.”
The scheme of the APC, he further alleged “is to torture, brutalise and keep these PDP leaders in detention so as to pave way for the APC’s militia to terrorise the people and scare them away from participating in the electoral process, having realised that the APC has been rejected in Zamfara State.”
While condemning in the strongest term, the action of the Gov. Matawalle-led APC administration, the spokesperson said
the PDP and the people of Zamfara State cannot be intimidated.
The party warned Governor Matawalle and the APC in Zamfara State not to mistake the peace-loving and law-abiding disposition of PDP members and the people of Zamfara State as a sign of weakness.
He said Governor Matawalle and the APC in Zamfara State must realise that Zamfara State is home to the PDP, that Dr. Dauda Lawal has the full support of the people and is coasting to victory as the next Governor of Zamfara State.
“Any attack on the PDP in Zamfara State is a direct assault on the generality of the people; it amounts to pushing the people of Zamfara State to the wall and the consequences could be dire,” he warned.
The PDP therefore demanded for the immediate and unconditional release of Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Captain Bala Mai Riga and other members of the PDP who were illegally arrested and detained reportedly on the orders of Governor Matawalle.
The party also charged the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore the withdrawn security details attached to the PDP Governorship Candidate in Zamfara State and take urgent steps to ensure the provision of adequate security for PDP members in the State in line with the Constitutional duty of the Police to the Nigerian people.
It further asked the Inspector General to commence the immediately investigation of the reported partisanship of certain top police personnel in Zamfara State which facilitated the vicious clampdown, illegal arrest and detention of PDP members in the State.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call Governor Matawalle to order, rein-in his APC members and counsel them to accept the fact that the people of Zamfara State and Nigerians in general have the right to decide their political preference which they have amply expressed in their massive support for the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections,” said the NPS.
