SAN FRANCISCO, January 22, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has accused the opposition of mobilising armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents to perpetrate massive acts of violence during the general elections.
Responding, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the allegations as false ridiculous and irresponsible.
Mohammed made the allegation on Monday while briefing reporters in Abuja, the nation’s capital, claiming that the plan was to disrupt the polls in several states in the north-east, north-west, and north-central states of the country.
“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 mobilised 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,” he alleged.
“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 mobilised by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections.”
The minister insisted that having noticed their dwindling fortunes, the alleged plot by the opposition was to spread violence across the country to truncate the electoral process.
He claimed that this was intended to cause a constitutional crisis which he said would snowball into the establishment of an interim government and urged Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to cast their votes come the elections.
He assured them that the Federal Government would take pre-emptive measures to ensure their safety before, during and after the elections.
The minister said, “The administration’s commitment to a credible, free, fair and peaceful elections is unshaken.
“After all, according to the online encyclopedia – Wikipedia – elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.”
In a swift reaction, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, criticised the minister for making such allegations saying the minister’s claims were alleged plot by the APC.
“We have noted the detailing of awareness of the said plots by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, which exposes manifest complicity at very high level,” he said.
“In the light of this and the already displayed desperation by the APC ahead of the general elections, the PDP calls on Nigerians to hold President (Muhammadu Buhari) directly responsible for any escalation of violence in our nation.
“It is imperative to state that the PDP finds the claims of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, irresponsible and ludicrous.
“It is just a measure for building the ground for framing up and arrest of leading members of the opposition as he has just confirmed our concerns.
“On behalf of Nigerians, we thank Alhaji Lai Mohammed for mustering the courage to bring the nefarious plans of the APC to the public.
“The PDP and Nigerians are prepared for a peaceful election in defence of our democracy.”
