Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that his All Progressives Congress, APC counterpart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is plotting to instigate violence to scuttle the forthcoming polls and ultimately destabilise the country.
He also demanded proper investigation of Tinubu’s running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima’s alleged links with Boko Haram while he was Governor of Borno State.
According to the former Vice President, Tinubu the flag bearer of the ruling party is scheming to cause riots with the aim of causing a revolution that would plunge Nigeria into crisis.
Atiku in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, alerted the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant authorities to beware of the alleged plot and nip it in the bud.
The PDP presidential hopeful claimed that “Tinubu’s outburst at the APC rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Wednesday, January 26, 2023, was a prelude to the violence the Lagos godfather was planning.”
He recalled that Tinubu, while addressing a crowd of his supporters during a presidential rally in Abeokuta, “almost declared himself as the winner of an election that is 29 days away using the same entitlement mentality that he used in blackmailing his party men into getting the ticket for the general election.”
Atiku’s statement made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “We restate that, his rhetoric does not reflect someone who will accept defeat in the event of his imminent electoral loss.”
The statement quoted Tinubu as saying in the Yoruba language: This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They don’t want us to have votes. They want to scatter it. Will you agree? No… I’m bringing a revolution.”
Irked by the former Lagos Governor’s incisive remarks, Atiku said: “Tinubu is not too big and he has no immunity neither is he above the law of the land to be interrogated by the Department of State Services or by the Nigerian police.”
Atiku said that Tinubu had perfected plans to mobilise and instigate youths to commence protests against fuel price hike as a smokescreen to trigger the revolution he had in mind.
“The protests will be about the lingering petrol scarcity which he had refused to comment on before the election.
“Some demonstrations will also be held against the Central Bank of Nigeria in order to force the apex bank to extend the deadline for the currency swap.
“While it is the inalienable right of Nigerians to protest, Tinubu’s accusation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was behind the petrol scarcity and the scarcity of the new naira note, a nonsensical claim given the fact that the PDP has not been in power for the last eight years.
“As his former campaign director, Hajia Najaatu Mohammed stated on Arise Television, Tinubu has no honour whatsoever. Money is his religion and his essence.
“He wants to buy the election with bullion vans just as he bought the Presidential ticket of his party last year but this will never happen.”
Atiku also brought back to the consciousness of Nigerians the fact that Tinubu’s running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, may also have links to Boko Haram given the fact that convicted terrorist, Kabiru Sokoto, was arrested at the Borno Governor’s Lodge when Shettima was governor of the state.
“For emphasis, Kabiru Sokoto was the mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of the St Theresa Roman Catholic Church on 25 December 2011 in Madalla, Niger State, which killed 37 Christians.“
Atiku urged the security agencies not to sweep the matters under the carpet.
