….Wants creation of Jagaban Army probed by security agencies
…Members of Strategic Communication dept raises alarm on threat to lives
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo,
forthwith, for using his official position, funded by tax payer’s money, to interfere with the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections.
The PCC of the PDP has similarly urged Buhari to read the riots act to agents of the government from inter fearing with this election.
The calls were made on Sunday at a world press conference addressed by members of the Directorate of Strategic Communications, Atiku Abubakar PCC in Abuja.
The calls were apparently in response to a petition by Keyamo to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the probe of Atiku Abubakar over certain allegations as well as a case filed in court by him (Keyamo) seeking to stop the presidential candidate of the PDP from contesting the February 25 presidential election.
At the press conference jointly addressed by Otunba Dele Momodu, Director of Strategic Communication of the PCC of the PDP, Mr Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Barrister
Daniel Bwala, Spokesperson of the PCC, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant, Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Spokesperson Presidential Campaign Council as well as Barrister Ocholi Onoja, Mr Ese Anenih and others, the PCC pointed out that any effort to intimidate opposition is an effort to interfere with the conduct of a peaceful elections.
The PDP/Atiku Abubakar PCC equally called on all the nation’s security and intelligence platforms to investigate and where necessary arrest all those involved, including the presidential candidate of APC, those behind the creation of militia group code named ‘Jagaban Army’, which has never happened in the history of politics in Nigeria until now.
Speaking first at the press conference, Barrister (Dr) Bwala said, “We call on the president to sack the minister of state for labour and employment forthwith for using official position funded by tax payer’s money to interfere with the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections.
“We also call on the president to read the riots act to agents of the government from inter fearing with this election.
“Any effort to intimidate opposition is an effort to interfere with the conduct of a peaceful elections”, he said.
Continuing, the legal luminary said, ”
The PCC of the PDP equally called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to arrest and prosecute the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
Bwala said it was imperative for the NDLEA to wade in by calling Tinubu for questioning over the deal which led to him forfeiting $460, 000 to US authorities.
This singular conduct of Mr Keyamo, the PCC of PDP contended, has brought the government of president Buhari to disrepute and threatening the legacy he said he will leave behind.
According to the council, “It is believed now that president Buhari who recently was reported as saying cabinet members should focus on governance and not be involved in the campaign has since made a U-turn and task his cabinet members to influence the agencies of government in favour of APC.
“Members of the opposition are reported to be increasingly invited by law enforcement for one question or the other in other to weaken the opposition”, it said.
On the issue of the creation of the militia code named ‘Jagaban Army’, the PCC said, “The creation of militia has never happened in the history of politics in Nigeria until now.
“We call on Nigeria’s security and intelligence platforms to investigate and where necessary arrest all those involved including the presidential candidate of APC.
“We also call on the domestic and international election observers, majority of them are already here in Nigeria, as well as the ECOWAS, US, UK, European Union and other development partners to look into this obvious threats to the peaceful conduct of elections”, the PCC of the PDP said.
The members of the Directorate of Strategic Communication of the PCC however raised the alarm that there are increasing threats to their lives.
According to Bwala, “There is increasing threats to our lives by members of All Progressives Congress who draw their strength from the declaration by the presidential candidate in London that members should at all cost grab, snatch and run with his mandate.
“Personally i fear for my life from the various threats i get from the candidate and his campaign.
“If anything happens to my life, the nation and international community should hold Tinubu and his campaign responsible”, he said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
