The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki on Friday, raised concern
over his safety and those of his political supporters in his state,
Kwara.
over his safety and those of his political supporters in his state,
Kwara.
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| Bukola Saraki |
Saraki, Director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential
Campaign Organisation, at a news conference in Abuja, accused the
security agencies of giving cover to people who were unleashing
violence on the supporters of the PDP across the state.
Campaign Organisation, at a news conference in Abuja, accused the
security agencies of giving cover to people who were unleashing
violence on the supporters of the PDP across the state.
A similar allegation had been made by the opposition All Progressives
Congress members in the state, who alleged that PDP thugs destroyed
billboards and posters across the state and in one instance at the
Emir’s Palace in Ilorin, prevented the APC governorship candidate,
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq from making a speech.
Congress members in the state, who alleged that PDP thugs destroyed
billboards and posters across the state and in one instance at the
Emir’s Palace in Ilorin, prevented the APC governorship candidate,
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq from making a speech.
Saraki said that the police had continued to show hostility to him
and his supporters in Kwara State as part of efforts to jeopardise and
undermine his personal security and that of his immediate and larger
family.
and his supporters in Kwara State as part of efforts to jeopardise and
undermine his personal security and that of his immediate and larger
family.
The Senate President cited three incidents to illustrate his fear
about his security, alleged that on Thursday, some supporters and thugs
of the APC attacked PDP supporters at Adewole/Adeta, Ilorin, who were
holding their weekly ward meetings.
about his security, alleged that on Thursday, some supporters and thugs
of the APC attacked PDP supporters at Adewole/Adeta, Ilorin, who were
holding their weekly ward meetings.
“They disrupted the meetings by shouting their party slogan and when
our people responded by mentioning our own slogan, they fired gun shots
into their midst in Adewole/Adeta.
our people responded by mentioning our own slogan, they fired gun shots
into their midst in Adewole/Adeta.
“They also inflicted machete cuts on some of them. As a result of this attack, two people suffered bullet wounds.”
Saraki added that also on Thursday , the same thugs went to his family
quarters in Agbaji in Ilorin and vandalised houses, shops and inflicted
machete wounds on three persons.
“All these destructions took place in the presence of policemen who
came with them but watched without any care, as the APC thugs and
supporters unleashed violence on our people.
came with them but watched without any care, as the APC thugs and
supporters unleashed violence on our people.
“For me, personally, I believe the decision to attack people and
properties in my family ancestral compound is a direct affront and
attack on my person.
properties in my family ancestral compound is a direct affront and
attack on my person.
“And whatever signal these APC elements with support from the police
believe they are sending is definitely sinister, uncivilized and
unfortunate.
believe they are sending is definitely sinister, uncivilized and
unfortunate.
“Our people have filed reports of the incidents in relevant police
stations in Ilorin but we have doubts that anything tangible and
constructive will come out of these reports.”
stations in Ilorin but we have doubts that anything tangible and
constructive will come out of these reports.”
Saraki added that the same Police under the directive of Inspector
General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris on Thursday commenced the transfer
of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) out of Kwara.
General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris on Thursday commenced the transfer
of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) out of Kwara.
The Senate President said that while the police are free to take
decisions on the deployment of their personnel, they found the postings
in Kwara State strange and more than a mere coincidence.
“It should also be noted that IGP has posted three different Commissioners of Police to Kwara State in the last six months.
“In fact, the previous and current Commissioner of Police in the
State got strict instructions from the IGP not to relate or engage with
the Senate President.
State got strict instructions from the IGP not to relate or engage with
the Senate President.
“The usual practice has been that the Commissioner of Police
personally ensures the security of the Senate President whenever he
visits his home state.
personally ensures the security of the Senate President whenever he
visits his home state.
“That was the practice during the period of my predecessor and in my first year in office. “
Saraki said that now that he is set to begin ward to ward campaigns
in the state, he is not sure what instructions the IGP had given to
the police command in the state.
in the state, he is not sure what instructions the IGP had given to
the police command in the state.
“Thus, the entire world should hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself.”
Saraki alleged that IGP Idris had tried thrice to implicate him in some criminal charges.
One of them was the arrest of some cultists, who claimed they
worked for him. Another, he said, was the Offa robbery. Saraki said
none of the plots succeeded.
worked for him. Another, he said, was the Offa robbery. Saraki said
none of the plots succeeded.
“A situation where political thugs and operatives attack opponents of
the APC under the watch and protection of law enforcement agents does
not present Nigeria well in the comity of nations,” Saraki said.
the APC under the watch and protection of law enforcement agents does
not present Nigeria well in the comity of nations,” Saraki said.
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