PDP Crisis: ‘New PDP’ Alleges Plot To Arrest Obasanjo, Atiku, Others By: Chibuzo Ukaibe, Bayo Oladeji on September 30, 2013 The ‘new’ Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) yesterday alleged that there is a plot by the Presidency to arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over their perceived support for the breakaway faction of the ruling party. A statement by the national publicity secretary of the nPDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, which made this claim, also stated the G-7 governors are also pencilled down for crackdown by the presidency and noted that they had resolved neither to retreat nor surrender in their bid to reclaim the party. The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led PDP wondered why Obasanjo was being targeted for arrest as the former president was not linked to the existence and operations of their party and stated that the plot to arrest Obasanjo was to demystify him. According to Eze, the targeted governors include Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). Part of the nPDP statement reads: “Some days ago, we received intelligence reports that the Presidency was putting finishing touches to what it calls “Operation Total Crackdown on G7 and their allies in the New PDP. “When we got details of the plot to arrest and commit the leadership of New PDP to prison without charge we thought it was a joke. The reality, however, dawned on us after we read the interview of our friend and brother Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo in the PREMIUM TIMES, September 26, 2013, confirming that President Goodluck Jonathan is under pressure to arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without any further delay. “The sin of these two distinguished Nigerian statesmen, according to those plotting their “demystification”, is their alleged support for the New PDP, including the G7 governors. That this evil plot is being conceived by the Presidency confirms that the Abacha days are truly here again with us. “We do not know why General Olusegun Obasanjo is being linked with the new PDP. Let us state unequivocally that this foremost nationalist has not in any way – either directly or by proxy – had anything to do with our existence and operations. Ridiculing and plotting the arrest of such a distinguished personality that fought to keep this nation as one entity and contributed immensely in making PDP the most vibrant, virile, versatile and biggest political party in Africa as a nobody is not the best strategy to use to fight the cause of President Jonathan, who knows what Chief Obasanjo did to make him President in the first place.” The party summoned an emergency meeting in view of what it called “the devilish plot to crack down on us” and resolved “not to be intimidated as members of the party leadership have been advised to write their Wills.” It stated that it won’t back down on any of its demands as it meets with the President Jonathan on October7. However, in a swift reaction, Obasanjo yesterday asked Nigerians to count him out of any fictionalisation of the strife-torn PDP. Speaking through his chief of staff, Deacon Victor Durodola, Obasanjo said it was his wish to reconcile the aggrieved in order for the party to remain one. “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo does not belong to any faction of the party, he is a leader of the PDP, Baba is former President of the country under the platform of PDP, former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party so you don’t expect him to belong to any faction of the party. As far as he is concerned, PDP is one and what is happening is a disagreement within the PDP family. It is a family affair and it would soon come to an end. Baba is a mediator and you don’t expect a mediator to take sides in a feud. So those who are insinuating that Baba belongs to one faction or the other are missing it. “It is his wish that peace and unity return to the party and that is what he is working on till this hour. The idea that some people are after him because of the crisis he is trying to resolve does not arise. He always believed the party would come out stronger out of the crisis.”
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:37:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015