Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, have expressed concern over the increase in the use of security agencies by the Federal Government to allegedly stoke crises in some states of the country intimidate opponents.

They spoke at the meeting of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the umbrella body of traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of coastal states of Niger-Delta, weekend, at Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

While Alhaji Abubakar was specific on the growing antics in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, Clark mentioned Bayelsa, Ekiti and Osun states.

The former Vice President, represented by his running mate, Dr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said while addressing PANDEF members at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, that the Federal Government was using security agencies to abet and aid what is wrong and listed Akwa Ibom and Rivers as states being used as guinea pigs, adding, “And nobody is talking, when you talk, you become an enemy’’

He also said there was nothing on ground in Niger Delta region where the resources of the country were derived, promising that if elected, his administration will focus on turning things around and ensuring that the country is governed by the rule of law.

His words, “Niger Delta is where the resources are and when you travel around, you are not able to see anything on ground. In this country you must insist and there is no reason in being fearful. We are committed to building a better Nigeria and unify Nigeria. We will focus on turning things for the better.”

Alhaji Abubakar, who reaffirmed his commitment to restructure the country if voted into power come 2019, maintained that restructuring the country was the only way to go to ensure the rapid and sustainable development of the states in particular and the country at large.

EDWIN CLARK

Leader of PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark Clark frowned at what he described as increasing trend of desecrating the national institutions, particularly the Army and Police by using them for political gains, noting that certain persons in political class have continued to drag the Police to become surrogates in achieving their nefarious political ends.

‘’That is why in a place like Bayelsa State, eight Commissioners of Police have been posted and reposted in a matter of three months. Here in Akwa Ibom state, we have continued to see the overtly partisan role which the police play.

“In Ekiti, and Osun elections, we all saw how men of the Nigeria Police Force were being openly used to intimidate political opponents and in some cases, directly perpetuating acts which are by all standards violate every existing electoral laws’’, he said.

The elder statesman, however, expressed confidence in the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar, saying, ‘’There is no going back on our support, which is informed by the fact that some of the ideals which you stand for are what we believe and insist upon. These ideals are founded on the objectives of building a new Nigeria.”

•Sourced from a Vanguard report

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