The All Progressive Congress in Kwara State has alleged a grand plan by the Bukola Saraki-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State to allegedly impersonate the All Progressives Congress (APC) by mobilising thugs and urchins to wear a parody of the ruling party’s campaign caps, vests and other identifiers for destructive and criminal purposes.
The alarm was raised in a statement by the APC Publicity Secretary in Kwara State, Alhaji Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro on Tuesday.
The statement revealed that the plan, according to an intel received by the party, is to make it possible for the opposition PDP to play the victim card.
It stated further: “Kwara PDP is losing numerous stakeholders and members to the APC fold as the election continues to draw nearer, coupled with the collapse of their election rigging plan which has been exposed by the outcome of the Osun elections Tribunal, the party added.
“A source narrated that the Kwara PDP has been organising urchins and thugs to destroy people’s properties, maim and cause tension in the state, while giving them clothes, caps branded with APC, AA and Maa Se Lo logo and other things to execute the evil tasks.
“This is just to create confusion and the impression that APC is behind the attacks. This plot has just been uncovered. This is how they think they can now win the election since they have lost popularity and acceptability with the ordinary masses, elites, and other stakeholders. If they succeed in this, it will be possible for them to play the victim card so as to curry the sympathy of the people.
“…Saraki dynasty is not new in the game, going down memory lane of how they had allegedly used a similar strategy to paint late Governor Mohammed Alabi Lawal in bad light in the buildup to the 2003 election.
“The dynasty was believed to have sponsored thugs and cultists to wear clothes branded with ‘UP LAWAL’ just to deceive the people and create the impression that the late governor was behind the attacks. They somehow succeeded with the evil plot. That’s the same plan they want to adopt now.”
“According to a report by the CPJ narrating the event of 2002 in Kwara, “On Friday, November 15, an explosion destroyed the offices of the independent weekly National Pilot in Ilorin, the capital of Nigeria’s north central Kwara State. Five people were seriously injured in the blast — which local sources suspected was a politically motivated bomb attack—including the paper’s deputy editor-in-chief, Mudasiru Adewuyi.
“The explosion occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday, while the paper’s staff were preparing its latest edition for release on Monday. The blast caused the roof of the building to collapse, injuring five workers and destroying a substantial amount of equipment. The injured workers were taken to a local hospital.”
“Governor Lawal had described the incident as a “self-inflicted attack” aimed at discrediting his administration.
“During the reign of the Saraki dynasty, thugs were reportedly empowered amid disclosures that they were even on the payroll of the then Kwara State Government, politicians, and they were granted every access and freedom which was one of the causes of Offa robbery in which 33 people were killed. The Offa robbery suspect were discovered to have hidden their operation vehicles in Government House after the robbery.
“Their menace at that time was so worrying. They clashed almost every time, putting the state in unrest and jeopardy.
“The case of the PDP thug called Ojulari is an eye opener. He was caught with guns, ammunitions and charms. He confessed to being a member of the PDP in Kwara State, according to the Police statement. The PDP has so many of them like that whose job is to cause unrest in the society. The administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has tamed their activities because he frowns at thuggery and refuses to grant them official cover. He is known for this policy. However, with the election, the case is rearing its ugly head again as the PDP elements are desperate to win either by hook or crook. Ojulari actually wanted to assassinate at the APC rally where he was found with two guns. What’s a PDP thug with weapons doing at an APC rally?” the APC statement said.
APC while commending the security agencies for the good work so far, urged them not to relent in discharging their duties diligently, adding that the election is a referendum on the past and the present, and no one should be allowed to deploy violence of any kind to intimidate the people.