Southwest PDP cautions against arrest of Saraki, Ekweremadu
Party to challenge Bauchi south election result in court
THE Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (Apc)-led Federal Government against intimidating its leaders, saying any attempt to arrest Senate President Bukola Saraki, will plunge the country into crisis.
Its Chairman, Eddy Olafeso, in a statement yesterday in Akure, accused the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, of insulting elder statesmen like former President Olusegun Obasanjo
“We are aware of a disingenuous plot by the presidency and APC to arrest Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over trumped- up charges.
“We also note that the APC has become very rabid since Oshiomhole took over as chairman. It has become his regular pastime to insult our leaders and their legacies as if that is his term of reference.
“The PDP wishes to state that Nigeria is our fatherland and not an exclusive preserve of the Presidency and APC. Therefore, the fundamental rights of all Nigerians must not be trampled upon by a privileged few,” the statement reads.
Olafeso particularly stressed Oshiomhole’s constant abuses on Obasanjo, saying his ill-manners continues to rob the ruling party of maturity and decent approach to tackling political issues.
“His flippant, loquacious and uncouth language is symptomatic of unfounded aggression and grudges. Failure of the authorities to prosecute actions injurious to our democracy will do great disservice to the country,” he added.
While expressing resentment towards the actions of APC and its leadership, he stated that PDP would no longer condone anybody insulting Obasanjo and other Yoruba leaders, declaring that henceforth, the party was prepared to square up with Oshiomhole if he continues to abuse and assault its leaders.
“Any orchestrated arrest of Saraki and Ekweremadu under any guise whatsoever will be viewed as a continuation of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s intimidation and oppression of the duo for the past three years,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the PDP in Bauchi State has rejected the result of last Saturday’s byelection and has vowed to challenge the outcome in court, alleging mass rigging, voters inducement and disenfranchisement of its members at polling units.
While addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat yesterday, state Chairman of the party, Hamza Akuyam, its candidate, Ladan Salihu and other party leaders described the election as the worst in the history of elections in the country.