. . . Asks Atiku to perish 2023 presidential, first settle domestic squabbles

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba, to diligently investigate allegations of threats to life made against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by his estranged wife Mrs. Jennifer.

HURIWA also wants members of the organized women's rights community to rally to the defence of one of their own, Mrs Jennifer.

The group said it was making the calls on the security services to prevent anything untoward from happening to Mrs. Jennifer.

The civil rights group insists that the former Vice President of Nigeria should first of all go and settle his boiling domestic front and prevent the alleged threats to his estranged wife from happening, rather than dissipate energy in seeking elective position in 2023.

"We are alarmed, just like millions of other Nigerians, to read the shocking allegations made by the vastly educated and extensively travelled former wife of Nigeria’s erstwhile Vice President and we are worried by the disturbing disclosure alleging that she is subjected to death threats by agents allegedly working for the former second most powerful man in the largest black nation in the world- Atiku Abubakar, and we are writing to demand that the security forces need not stay aloof, do nothing until the alleged threats are probably carried out but should suo moto, initiate diligent investigations by inviting all the parties remotely or immediately linked to this worrying development," HURIWA stated.

HURIWA, in a statement endorsed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday, said: “We all know that those who have held such powerful political positions in Nigeria are very much politically connected all their lives. So we urge women’s rights defenders to speak out and demand that nothing untoward should happen to this distressed Nigerian citizen Jennifer who said she had to run out of Nigeria for fear that the alleged threats to her life for seeking for divorce from the former Vice President will be carried out.”

The statement read further: “This is now a national problem that has to be handled with every commitment and professionalism. No harm should come to that distinguished daughter of South East of Nigeria and her Children. Whilst we hold no brief for either of the parties, we think that this matter that is now in the public domain must not be overlooked because of the political status of the person being accused rightly or wrongly. We are not in a position to confirm or deny the allegations, but we think allegations of threat to life are critical and Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution obliges the federal government to protect the right to life.

“Based on the extent of information made available on the feud between Atiku and his wife who now seeks for divorce, we in the civil society community thinks it is more paramount for His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to concentrate efforts to ensure the safety of his erstwhile wife who is afraid for her life and he should leave the political stage for persons who are ready to lead Nigeria so he can settle his domestic dispute because it is illogical to seek political and public office when the public is inundated and bombarded by allegations of such a magnitude by the estranged wife of the former Vice President about alleged domestic squabbles,” HURIWA affirmed.

HURIWA recalled that Jennifer, a Lawyer, and one of the wives of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had confirmed her divorce to the former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“HURIWA has therefore asked that the security forces should be proactive and take actions guided by law to stave off any danger or harm from happening to her since she has made a public appeal to save her endangered life and we are demanding for open and transparent probe. We call on Women's rights advocates to wake up and defend her,” the statement added.

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