Borno rally: PDP, APC in war of words

…74 injured persons by APC thugs hospitalised —Dino

…PDP, Dino are liars — APC

…Claim of attack is fake news — Police

As the sense of violence to run political face-off in the campaign  towards the 2023 General Elections build up, an allegation of thuggery attack on the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, has generated controversy and war of words.

Trailing the claim which alleged attack on Atiku’s convoy were refuting reactions by the Nigeria Police Force and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which was accused by its main opposition, PDP, of deploying thugs to destabilise its political campaigns.

PDP chieftain and presidential campaign spokesperson, Dino Melaye on Wednesday alleged during the party rally in Maiduguri that at least 74 persons were hospitalised, while over 100 vehicles were vandalised as hoodlums from different political parties clashed when the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stormed Maiduguri for campaign rally.

He pointed accusing fingers at the ruling party, APC, for trying to stop their campaign in the state.

“They deployed their thugs to attack our convoys with stones, sticks, machetes as we left the Shehu’s palace to come to the Ramat Square, all in an attempt to stop our rally.

“Thugs were deployed in many strategic locations to attack our supporters. But we want to assure them that nobody can stop us,” he alleged.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned in the strongest terms possible the ‘cowardly violent attack’ on its Presidential Campaign convoy in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital today, Wednesday, November 9, 2022 by armed thugs sponsored by the disconcerted All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also a statement released to Nigerian NewsDirect on Wednesday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba  states that: “The attack on the PDP Presidential campaign train as it made its way into Maiduguri city amidst thunderous cheers by the people further confirms APC’s frustration, bitter envy and disconcertedness over the overwhelming popularity of the PDP and our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Borno State, the North East Zone and across the nation; for which the APC has resorted to violence.

“Our Party has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilized the thugs with the aim to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its Presidential Campaign Rally in the State.

“Nigerians witnessed with sorrow how hundreds of APC’s armed thugs stationed at major roundabouts and intersections in the city of Maiduguri unleashed violence on the PDP Presidential Campaign convoy and innocent citizens going about their lawful activities in a gruesome attack that left over 70 persons gravely injured and hospitalized.

“This attack is consistent with APC’s habitual resort to violence in the face of rejection by the people as also witnessed in the attack on the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Rally in Kaduna State on October 17, 2022.

“APC’s barbaric and anti-social behaviour is contrary to the Peace Accord it signed on September 28, 2022 and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, our electoral process and the 2023 general elections.

“It is clear that the APC has since become confused, frenetic and chaotic following the daily mass exodus of its key members into the PDP across the nooks and crannies of the State as witnessed at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally today in Maiduguri in support of Atiku Abubakar and in clear rejection of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

“The PDP commends the brave and courageous people of Borno State for coming out enmasse to resist the APC thugs and ensured the success of the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Rally in support of Atiku Abubakar.

“Our Party is not daunted and cannot be deterred by cowardly attacks by the APC as Nigerians are already connected with the PDP’s issue-based campaign in the mission to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation from the asphyxiating misrule of the APC.

“The PDP calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to take immediately action to arrest this constant incidence of violence being unleashed by the APC on PDP Campaign activities.  It should be noted that a continuing violence by the APC can result in a situation where other parties might be encouraged to resort to self-help.

“Once again, we call on President Buhari, as a matter of urgency and consistent with his Oath of Office, to call the members of his party, the APC to order in the interest of the nation, our democracy and the electoral process. Enough is Enough,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the ruling party accused of the attack in a swift reaction discredited incidence of any attack on a convoy in the State, describing as false Melaye’s claim.

The APC in the State speaking through its Chairman, Ali Dalori, said political thuggery in the State had long been swept off since Governor Babagana Zulum took over the mantle of leadership.

…Claim of attack fake, mischievous attempt at confusing Nigerians – Police

Meanwhile, discrediting the claims of attack on Atiku’s convoy, the Borno State Police Command said such claim “was not only fake, but a false and mischievous attempt at confusing Nigerians.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sani Shatambaya, while addressing journalists on Wednesday, said the purported attack was false.

“The news of the attack on Atiku Abubakar’s convoy was not only fake but a false and mischievous attempt at confusing Nigerians,” he said.

However, the Police disclosed it paraded one Danladi Musa Abbas, 32, for “attempting to disrupt the escort of the presidential candidate on the way to the airport,” adding that, “he was arrested with a stone, and on sighting the police, he ran into a church where he was arrested.”

Shatambaya further said the Command is hunting for his other accomplices.

Noting that the PDP presidential rally was conducted peacefully with no incidence of attack for whatsoever, he said, “I want to use this opportunity to inform the general public that the mischievous reports from the social media that Atiku’s convoy were attacked is a case of fake news.

“It is worthy to note that one Danladi Musa, who attempted to attack the convoy of Atiku along the Airport road was arrested by the police with stones as exhibit.

“I want to urge members of the general public that the suspect is with us, and the Command is doing everything possible to arrest other suspects.”