FG denies alleged plot to assassinate Atiku Abubakar

By Jude Opara

The federal government has denied any involvement in the alleged plot to assassinate former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar.

Minister of Solid Minerals and spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Dele Alake in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja said the allegation credited to a member of the ADC, Timi Frank is untrue hence the need for him to come out and substantiate his claims.

According to Alake, the allegation is not something that should be allowed to slide, hence the urgent need for Frank to also provide the necessary information to security agencies for a thorough investigation.

“Our attention has been drawn to the statement by Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress, alleging that the Nigerian Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the ADC.

“This is a grave allegation that Mr Frank must prove. We thus urge security agencies to invite him to substantiate the allegation, given its gravity and the urgent need to preserve life. We also urge Mr Frank not to hesitate to provide any information in his possession that will enable prompt investigation. Any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.

“We categorically reject the claim that the presidency of Nigeria or the APC Campaign Council is involved in any plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any opposition figure”.

The PCC spokesman further said there was no truth in another statement also said to have been made by Timi Frank that the security details of the former Vice President have been withdrawn.

“The narrative that the security personnel attached to former Vice President Atiku have been withdrawn is totally false. The former Vice President is well protected by the police and the Department of State Security. Contrary to the falsehood promoted by Timi Frank, President Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for all presidential, vice-presidential, governorship, and Deputy Governorship candidates across the country.

“The security around the ADC Presidential candidate has never been compromised. As a former Vice President of Nigeria, he enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection. President Tinubu has increased security protection for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a Presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“President Bola Tinubu, as a statesman and an avowed democrat, recognises opposition politics as an essential part of our 27-year-old democracy. For 16 years in Nigeria, President Tinubu was the face of opposition, and he galvanised the opposition movement to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party as a governing party in Nigeria in 2015”.

Alake argued that what Frank is doing is the same habit of opposition politicians whom he said are always in the business of crying wolf all the time.

“Mr Frank’s claim is typical opposition rabble-rousing meant to heat the polity. Many opposition figures, including Timi Frank, have made it a habit to write open letters and tag foreign leaders and international organisations in social media posts to draw undeserved attention to themselves.

“As we go deeper into the campaign season, politicians and supporters will continue to make outlandish statements and frivolous allegations to gain political advantage”.

The APC chieftain urged all candidates, political parties, and their supporters to be factual and responsible in public statements and avoid utterances that can trigger avoidable tension in the polity.