Killer Squad After Ekweremadu, Secondus, Akpabio, Others- PDP

The party listed the key members to include the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, its acting national chairman, Uche Secondus; acting chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Dr. Bello Harilu Mohammed; national secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo, and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, among others.

The party also accused the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, of being responsible for Tuesday’s alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy President of the Senate.

PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, at a press conference, said the attempt at Ekweremadu brought to the fore the fears that the era of political assassination may have returned to the country.

He said, “As you are aware, on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 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.

The PDP therefore called on the international community to “note this ugly development in our country and hold the government responsible should any unexplained harm befall any PDP leader.”

The party said that the APC led government should be held responsible should any PDP leader be visited by ‘armed robbers’.