Former Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
THE President is under pressure to order the arrest and detention of former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, sources said yesterday.
Some security agents are believed to have been trailing Tinubu’s movement in the last few days.
The planned arrest is said to be part of a grand plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to “capture” the Southwest and prevent a likely run-off in the April 9 presidential election.
A former President has been fingered in the plot.
But President Goodluck Jonathan is said not to be “keen” on any “crude” method to win.
The Nation learnt that some of the President’s strategists repeatedly queried why Tinubu is still left to call the shots in the Southwest and in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when the government could take advantage of pending “phantom” allegations against him.
It was learnt that some of the strategists, at a meeting in Abuja, took exception to the alleged “kid-glove” treatment given Tinubu by the President.
Some sources alleged that the meeting was held at the Villa; others claimed it was at a secret location, which they refused to state.
But, it was learnt that, in line with the “grand plot”, the ex-governor’s security aides were withdrawn last week to “demonstrate the efficacy of Federal might”.
A source said: “The plot by some strategists of the President, including a former Head of State, is to ensure that Tinubu is in detention till after the April poll. These people are intimidating and putting Jonathan under pressure to do it.
“In one of their meetings, they queried why it had been difficult for the Presidency to ‘demystify’ Tinubu.
“The President has, however, restated his commitment to win the poll, free and fair. He has been reminding some of his strategists of his pledge to the international community that the April elections will be conducted without inhibitions.
“These desperate strategists, including some PDP stalwarts in the Southwest, are, however, blind to the implications of the arrest and detention of a key opposition figure less than one month to the polls.
“Their concern is that the over 14 million votes from the Southwest cannot be ignored by the PDP. They also raised concern about likely surprises the ACN might spring in some states, such as Bauchi, Imo, Ebonyi, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Edo and Rivers states.”
“Acting National Chairman of the PDP Mohammed Haliru Bello reportedly gave an insight into the plot at a campaign rally in Lagos when he made a lot of innuendoes on Tinubu.
“These strategists had initially ignored the possibility of a presidential poll rerun in April, but the reality of the political situation nationwide has made Tinubu a target.
“It has now dawned on them that once there is a presidential rerun, PDP will lose out as the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change can form an alliance to seal the fate of the PDP.
“They are after do-or-die poll to retain the grip of the PDP.”
An ACN source said last night that the party and Tinubu were also set for the battle ahead.
The source added: “Tinubu is unruffled by their plot. Although he is aware that his movement is being trailed, he is ready to give it what it takes.
“He has told all his aides and followers that he would resist all attempts to smear his image just to taint his political career and capture the Southwest.”
No comments:
Post a Comment