Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, on Tuesday warned against what he termed intimidation of family members and associates of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Frank warned that EFCC’s alleged intimidation of Abubakar’s family and members of the PDP would lead to “serious issues.”
In a statement he signed and availed DAILY POST, Frank challenged the leadership of the anti-graft agency to justify its ongoing intimidation and harassment of persons loyal to Abubakar.
The activist said the agency has not only lost its core mandate but was being positioned by the Muhammadu Buhari government to fight only opposition members.
Commenting on the latest arrest of Barr. Taminu Turaki, who is the Deputy Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Frank said no amount of blackmails, intimidation or harassment would stop the opposition leaders from reclaiming the mandate Nigerians freely gave to them through court of law.
According to him, virtually every known names supporting the presidential ambition of the former Vice President have been threatened in one way or the other by various institutions of government under President Buhari in the name of fighting corruption.
Frank specifically mentioned the main target for the harassment to include: the presidential candidate himself, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, PDP’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus and former governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose, “so that PDP’s strong voices can forget about reclaiming their victory in court.”
The political activist described as not golden the silence by the National Peace Committee being led by former Head of state, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, “who ought to have called Buhari to order but chose to be silent in the face of oppression against opposition members.
“I like to make it clear that the opposition PDP as it is today in Nigeria is stronger than APC in terms of membership and capacity to fight back if the Buhari and APC’s government pushes the party to the wall,” Frank stated.
While mocking the EFCC for allegedly abandoning its core mandate to fight against opposition, Frank asked “the agency to tell the world the owner of two bullion vans seen at the Lagos residence of APC National Leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with raw cash on the eve of election and the plane stashed with cash?
“Under APC, a reputable institution like EFCC created by PDP-led administration has turned to a mockery. Corruption fight is only a fight against the opposition members. They forget easily that their days are numbered.”
While calling on the international community to note the development in Nigeria and not to keep quiet at this period, the former APC spokesman said “any attempt of intimidation against Atiku and his family members or any PDP leaders will lead to serious issue,” adding that “when the opposition party is pushed to the wall there will be reaction capable of consuming the APC government.”
