THE Abubakar Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, raised alarm of alleged moves to crack down on its members across the country by the presidency by committing the leadership to prison, just as it urged all its leaders and members to, as a matter of urgency, write their wills.
The group, which boasted that it was not afraid of arrest or death in the course of fighting against injustice in the party, however, urged the presidency to wait till October 7, when a meeting would be held with President Goodluck Jonathan and use the opportunity to pick, arrest and lock them up rather than being in a hurry.
It said: “Though it is sad that instead of employing diplomacy to attend to the issues that brought this conflict to bear, the Presidency prefers to use force, we are not disturbed as we are ready for any of its tactics.
*Baraje
“In this regard, we wish to urge both the Presidency and those detailed to attack us not to waste further time or wait till October 7 to start arresting us as there are thousands of Nigerians ready to step into our shoes and fight this cause to its conclusion.
The new PDP also described as ridiculous the report associating former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the Baraje-led PDP, saying that the former PDP BoT chairman was not a member and has no proxy with regard to the existence and operations of the group.
In a statement, yesterday, by the new PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, the group said: “Some days ago, we received intelligence reports that the Presidency was putting finishing touches to what it calls Operation Total Crackdown on G7 and their allies in the New PDP.
“When we got details of the plot to arrest and commit the leadership of New PDP to prison without charge, we thought it was a joke. The reality, however, dawned on us after we read the interview of our friend and brother, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, confirming that President Goodluck Jonathan is under pressure to arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without any further delay.
“The sin of these two distinguished Nigerian statesmen, according to those plotting their ‘demystification,’ is their alleged support for the New PDP, including the G7 Governors.
“That this evil plot is being conceived by the Presidency confirms that the Abacha days are truly here again with us.
“In view of the seriousness of this devilish plot to crack down on us in total disregard of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, National Chairman of the new PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, summoned an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to brainstorm on how best to respond to the situation.
“Our conclusion at the end of the meeting was that we would not be intimidated for any reason.”
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