The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has insisted that the security search of his private aircraft on his return to Abuja from Dubai, was premeditated.
Atiku, who said he had never been searched before by security agents at the airport even though he frequently flies in and out of the country, contended that the action had been signaled by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in an earlier statement demanding for the search.
A statement issued by his presidential campaign organization in Abuja recalled that on November 5, 2018, the APC released an official statement accusing the former Vice President of having strategy meetings for the purpose of moving “illicit cash” into Nigeria and the party asked the security services to investigate him and his plane.
The statement quoted the APC as saying at the time: “Our intelligence, anti-graft and security agencies must be awake to its responsibility of investigating the Dubai meeting. Cash and carry politicians must be prevented from moving illicit cash around to induce voters and sponsor election violence and rigging. Again, relevant agencies must check suspicious movement of cash both locally and internationally by politically exposed persons under the guise of a ‘Dubai meeting’ or any clandestine meeting.”
The Atiku Campaign Organization said that the ruling party thereafter asked the security services to search any aircraft belonging to members of the PDP.
According to the organization, the APC statement “evinced an obvious premeditated intention by the APC and its Federal Government to deliberately embarrass the former Vice President by invading his plane with security personnel and possibly to set him up for the crimes they had already officially accused him of in their statement.”
It added: “The official denial by the All Progressives Congress and the Presidency of any hand in the ordeal of the former Vice President is put to lie when you examine their statement of last week, which was clearly what was implemented against the former Vice President. It also shows that both parties have no credibility and will do or say anything to further their interests.”
The campaign organization also rubbished as an afterthought, the statement by the Minister of State, Hadi Sirika, in which he claimed that the search on Atiku was a routine exercise, saying that the minister’s argument does not hold water “for the simple reason that the PDP presidential candidate has been flying in and out of Nigeria without ever receiving such a treatment until the APC released their statement.”
It added: “This event raises grave concerns about using government services for purely political purposes and what this portends for the conduct of free and fair elections in February 2019, and shows as hollow President Buhari’s promise to superintendent over credible polls.
“The Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation wishes to remind Nigerians and the international community that by Nigeria’s constitution, only the President can order the deployment of military and paramilitary personnel as Commander-in-Chief.
“That, combined with the statement released last week is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that what happened to Atiku Abubakar was not a routine exercise, but a deliberate attempt to intimidate him by those who have seen the political handwriting on the wall.”
Meanwhile, the presidential hopeful stormed the venue of the Igbo elders, religious and traditional rulers just as they were about rounding off.
He came with a message: “Whether I am president or not, Buhari must go in 2019. Our economy must be fixed.”
He arrived in a large entourage that was led by the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus. Also on the entourage were Senate President Bukola Saraki , Babangida Aliyu, Gbenga Daniel, Dino Melaye and other party chieftains.
Atiku told the full house of Igbo leaders that he and Peter Obi would correct all the anomalies visited on Nigeria by the Buhari administration.
He pointed at the security apparati in the country and decried the situation where all the security chiefs were from one part of the country.
“It aches my heart when I receive texts listing the lopsided appointments of security chiefs. The appointments do not reflect federalism. This is not federalism,” he said.
He promised to bring back to life the coal industry, regretting that coal which used to power the whole of Eastern Nigeria before the war, was abandoned.
He promised to give all it takes to make Nigeria a united and progressive country.
“A combination of Peter Obi and I, you can trust, will fix the economy.”
