Alleged crackdown: New PDP directs govs, leaders to write wills

[Mirror]

The National Chairman of the new Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has called on the leaders, including the G-7 governors, to prepare their wills ahead of the alleged plans of the government to persecute them.

Top among the targeted leaders as alleged by the new PDP include former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Abubarkar

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the new PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka, it said that they have "received intelligence reports that the Presidency was putting finishing touches to "Operation Total Crackdown on G7 and their allies in the New PDP".

The new PDP chairman, however, wondered why respected leaders such as ex- President Obasanjo is being linked with the new PDP.

He said: "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 new PDP said it thought it was a joke when it got details of the plot to arrest and commit its leadership to prison without charge but the reality dawned on them after they read the interview of a former Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo confirming that President Jonathan is under pressure to arrest Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar.

"In view of the seriousness of this devilish plot to crack down on us in total disregard of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the National Chairman of the new PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, summoned an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to brainstorm on how best to respond to the situation.

"Our conclusion at the end of the meeting was that we would not be intimidated for any reason, even if it means death, as we are fighting a just cause of reclaiming, recovering and establishing our party based on the vision of its founding fathers as the party is currently usurped by some members who do not know how it was formed.

"Baraje, knowing how dirty some of the hawks in the Presidency can fight when pushed to the wall, directed NWC members to write their wills immediately after the meeting as we have entered the stage of no retreat and no surrender – fully determined to reclaim what rightly belongs to us.

"The NWC also resolved to urge the G7 Governors that on no account should they be intimidated or frightened by any tactics or strategy employed by State Forces to coerce them to forgo any of the issues they have been asked to present before President Jonathan during the October 7 meeting.

"Though it is sad that instead of employing diplomacy to attend to the issues that brought this conflict to bear, the Presidency prefers to use force but we are not disturbed as we are ready for any of its tactics.

"In this regard, we wish to urge both the Presidency and those detailed to attack us not to waste further time or wait till October 7 to start arresting us as there are thousands of Nigerians ready to step into our shoes and fight this cause to its conclusion."

Source: Alleged crackdown: New PDP directs govs, leaders to write wills