Headlines
Police Arrest Four Suspects in Plot to Attack Atiku, Others
The Adamawa Police Command has arrested four persons in Yola, who plotted to attack a former Vice President and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, according to a statement by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe.
In the statement, Atiku was quoted as saying, “We wish to alert the Nigerian public that about 9:44pm on Sunday, 23 July, 2023, a man seeking to confirm the residence of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar in Yola was apprehended at the gate of the residence.
“The man, who was apprehended by security operatives at the residence of Atiku Abubakar, was later handed over to the police. Upon further interrogation by the police, the suspect identified himself as 29-year-old Jubrila Mohammed and confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in Borno State.
“The suspect also informed the police that he and his colleagues, who were later arrested, too, intended to attack organisations associated with Atiku Abubakar and some other sensitive locations in Yola.
“We commend the police for the work that they continue to do in this particular investigation. We further ask that other relevant security agencies remain on top of their brief.”
Reacting to the incident, PDP said it was alarmed, and it demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said the party insisted that by the confession of the arrested assailants, the plot had the pawmarks of a sponsored attempt on Atiku’s life, ostensibly by forces unsettled by his bid to retrieve his mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Ologunagba stated, “Our party believes that the intent of the sponsors of this evil plot is to silence our presidential candidate, massacre innocent Nigerians and cause chaos, confusion and anarchy in the polity.
“The PDP asks, is this foiled attack on Atiku Abubakar and sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa, connected to the recent APC’s threats of chaos and anarchy in the country, if the PEPC upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner?
“Could it also be a plan to orchestrate sense of insecurity in the country, starting in Adamawa State, the home state of our presidential candidate so as to justify the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa State as a precursor to a declaration of a state of emergency throughout the country?
“Our party charges the Inspector General of Police to take the lead provided by the confession of the assailants to track down their sponsors and bring them to book in the interest of the security, unity and wellbeing of our nation.
“The federal government has a duty and obligation to Nigerians and, indeed, the whole world to ensure that the perpetrators of these dastardly act and their sponsors are brought to book. This particular investigation is important to the country because of the scope and dimension of the attempted attack.
“Our party commends the collaborative effort of the vigilant people of Yola, Adamawa State, and security agencies in foiling the attack, while urging Nigerians to remain calm and alert as the authorities commence investigation to fish out those behind this evil plot.”
On his part, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, called on the federal government to urgently investigate the attack, and beef up security around the former vice president.
In a statement, Frank said the arrested suspect confessed to the police a grand plot to plant bombs at the Modibbo Adama Central Mosque, the residence of Atiku, as well as the American University in Yola.
He stated, “These confessions of the dreaded Boko Haram sect are troubling and worrisome, as this is the first time an attempted attack of this magnitude would be planned on the person of HE Atiku Abubakar.
“Having received the official Police HQ Situation Report, we would like to call on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, beef up adequate security around the former vice president, with swift investigation into unravelling the circumstances leading to Atiku as a target by this group.”
Arise News
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
