Date: 2014-12-03

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has berated the Minister of National Planning, Suleiman Abubakar, for his divisive role in the crises that marred PDP State Assembly primaries which led to brutal attack on journalists in Ilorin on Saturday.

The APC said its position that Dr Abubakar Suleiman sponsored the attack on journalists has been further corroborated by a statement released by a PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the APC wondered if Dr Abubakar Suleiman has turned to the Minister of Violence?

"The attack on Channels Television crew by thugs belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ilorin West Local Government area of Kwara State on Saturday is reprehensible and condemnable.

"We also condemn the crises that marred the State Assembly primary elections of the PDP in many Local government areas of Kwara State. The PDP should learn from how the APC conducted its State Assembly primaries across Kwara State in peaceful and funfair atmosphere without any form of harassment or assault. Democracy is visibly lacking in Kwara PDP, it exists only in its name.

"This unfortunate attack on innocent Channels Television crew by PDP thugs is coming barely few days that rampaging PDP thugs attacked the convoy of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed at Kaiama.

"It is a confirmation of APC's earlier statement that Kwara PDP is a dangerous threat to the peace of Kwara State.

"We support the position of the Kwara State chapter of Conference of Nigeria's Political Parties (CNPP) that the unfortunate attack on press men is a "failed attempt by the PDP to intimidate, suppress and gag the Press from reporting its undemocratic activities and violent practices".

"The reported instigated violent role played by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman in the whole crises should be investigated by security agencies. The investigation should start with his reported supervision of a parallel primary election and alleged ordering of political thugs to assault journalists. It is quite scandalous that Mr Minister ignited violence and immediately ran to the media to address irrelevant issues in a failed bid to divert attention and confuse the people of Kwara State. Kwarans can see through PDP's witless games.

"It would be recalled that Mr Minister made an irresponsible statement on the 5th of October, 2015 that Kwara State would soon become a hotbed of the Boko Haram sect. We did raise alarm that it might be a signal to a set of future negative events in the state. It is now clear that Mr Minister has started implementing what he truly meant with the irresponsible statement he made in October. Political violence cases in Kwara State have always revolved around Kwara PDP and its chieftains. Has Mr Minister turned to the Minister of Violence?

"Kwara PDP has launched its thuggery machinery in the build-up to 2015 general elections. If the security situation in Kwara State degenerates, Mr Minister and his allies would be held responsible.

"We warn Mr Minister and his allies to stop beating the drum of war. The mere fact that Mr Minister "narrowly escaped lynching"by political thugs loyal to another faction of the PDP as reported in the media shows that he could as well be consumed by the violence he has ignited in Kwara State.

"APC's position that Dr Abubakar Suleiman sponsored that attack on journalists has been further collaborated by a statement released by a PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem through his aide. The statement proved that, indeed, Mr Minister was behind the violence that occurred in Ilorin on Saturday.

"Mr Minister's denial and attempt to link our peaceful party, the APC, to his party internal crises is laughable. His involvement in the crises has been confirmed not by the APC but by PDP Chieftains and members. We urge him to stop falsehood and face the consequences of his actions as nobody is above the law in Nigeria.

"Kwarans can now see that Mr Minister has no meaningful contribution or impact to the development of Kwara State except inflammatory statements and sponsorship of political violence.

"We give the Kwara State Police Command 72 hours to address the people of Kwara State on its investigation and findings on Minister Abubakar Suleiman sponsorship of violence as confirmed by no less personality than a PDP gubernatorial aspirant.", the statement read.