The Federal Government has alleged of plans by opposition politicians to frustrate the forthcoming elections, with a view to establishing an interim government. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told journalists, in Abuja, yesterday, that bandits and Boko Haram elements have been armed to undertake massive attacks in 10 states of northern Nigeria.
However, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disagreed with the minister’s allegations, which it described as desperation by the ruling party to hold on to power at all cost, and clampdown on the opposition, adding that Nigerians would hold President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for any security breach in the country.
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, which shared the PDP’s views, attributed what it described as worsening Boko Haram insurgency and insecurity to Buhari’s incompetence. Lai Mohammed claimed that the opposition resorted to arming merchants of death because of their perceived inability to match President Buhari’s popularity and expected victory at the forthcoming polls.
He said: “You have definitely seen the massive and warm reception that President Buhari has been receiving across the country, compared to the thinning crowds that have been attending the opposition rallies. ‘’Having realized that their fortunes have dwindled badly ahead of the polls, the desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence, with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government.”
Massive attacks planned in 10 states
Lai Mohammed continued: “Before you accuse the government of crying wolf, let me tell you, gentlemen, that we have credible intelligence that armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilized to engage in massive attacks and other acts of violence in several states across the country, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.
“The Benue-based armed criminal group, led by Terwase Akwaza, also known as Gana, has been commissioned to strike soft targets in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states. ‘’In Kano State, a group of notorious miscreants have been mobilized by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections.”
Asked if the allegation was not an attempt to frame the opposition, the minister said, “that will amount to trivializing the whole issue.”
Mercenaries from Niger Republic contracted to attack govs, others
Mohammed also said that there was an international angle to the alleged plot, claiming that some mercenaries had been hired from neighbouring Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on Nigeria. “There is also an international dimension to the evil plan. Some armed mercenaries from Niger Republic have been contracted to attack top government functionaries, including state governors, across the North-West, between now and the elections.”
Responding to a question on the credibility of the intelligence, the minister said: “We have intelligent reports and we have an obligation to protect lives and property, we also have obligation to ensure there is stability in the country. “On whether the Federal Government has opened dialogue with Niger Republic on the threats, for the fact that we are aware of the threats, we have to alert the public to take right actions.
The matter is being looked into in collaboration with other member nations within the Lake Chad Basin.” We will ensure peaceful polls The minister said the federal government had taken steps to ensure peaceful elections, in spite of the threats.