Some key members of the People’s Democratic Party have marked for assassination by the All Progressives Congress as alleged by the PDP.
According to Chief Olisa Metuh, the national publicity secretary of the PDP in a press conference to address the alleged assassination attempt on Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, alleged that Ekweremadu was not the only PDP member targeted, and other key members allegedly marked for death include Uche Secondus, the acting national chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello, the acting national chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen Godswill Akpabio, the Senate minority leader, and Hon. Leo Ogor, the minority leader in House of Representatives, among others, Leadership reports.
He said: “As you are aware, on Tuesday, November 17, there was brazen attempt at the life of Ekweremadu on his way to work bringing to the fore fears that the era of political assassination may have returned to our dear country.
“We had also informed Nigerians that key PDP leaders were being trailed and that the government should be held responsible should any of them suddenly become victim of ‘terror attacks’, unexplained accidents, kidnapped or suddenly killed by ‘armed robbers’.
“Nigerians are witnesses to the growing draconian proclivity of this government, the increasing muzzling of opposition using security forces, judicial persecution and other devious means aimed at decimating our party to pave way for the imposition of one-party state, all in the desperate bid by this particular regime to forcefully retain power in 2019.
“The PDP does not mince words in holding the APC responsible for the Tuesday attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President. As you are well aware, APC leaders have not hidden their bitterness and resentment towards Senator Ekweremadu, whose offense is the privilege of being elected as Deputy Senate President, in line with the Standing Rules of the Senate and provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Is it not shocking that Senator Oluremi Tinubu , in furtherance of their plan to take over the office of the Deputy Senate President, went ahead at plenary today to occupy his seat and attempted to assume the duties associated with that office
“Intelligence information available to us however indicates that Senator Ekweremadu is not an isolated target, as notable PDP leaders, including our Acting BOT Chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed, Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo and members of the National Working Committee, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, House Minority leader, Hon. Leo Ogoh among others have also been penciled down for assassination.
“We have further information that some desperate power-mongers close to President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly those privy to his interest to contest the 2019 presidential election, and who have been reading his body language against the opposition, have gone ahead to establish a killer squad to wipe off strong opposition, deeming such a service to the President.
“This killer squad, our intelligence further revealed, has key marksmen recruited from within and outside the country with directives to trail, track down and hit strategic opposition elements and instill fear among PDP members.
“Additionally, we have verified reports from our elected members, especially those in the National Assembly that agents of the APC and the government have been approaching and threatening them to join their party or face victimization should they refuse.
“We therefore want the international community to note this ugly development in our country and hold the government responsible should any unexplained harm befall any PDP leader. This government should be held responsible should any PDP leader be visited by ‘armed robbers’.
“The PDP hereby draws the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to this disturbing development as the onus lies on his to come our clear and moderate the political temperature of the country by calling his overbearing party members and security officials to order.”
Metuh also stated that the ordering of the arrest of the former national security adviser (NSA) Sambo Dansuki, was based on the verdict of a subjective administrative panel, which was present to indict him.
The PDP spokesman further warned about the manipulation of the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections using the security forces and some compromised INEC officials and called on the Directorate of Military Intelligence to keep off issues concerning politicians.
According to him, the PDP has never raised any false alarm on national issues.
On Tuesday, November 17, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, reportedly escaped a suspected assassination attempt.
Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate president’s spokesperson, said the attempt occurred on his way to work at about 10am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters junction.
The suspected assassins reportedly operated in a tinted white-coloured Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number. The driver was a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, probably a mercenary, Anichukwu said.