2019: Probe Atiku, PDP’s Dubai Meeting -APC Writes EFCC

The All Progressives Congress has alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies of possible sinister motives behind recent Dubai meeting of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and leading figures of Atiku Abubakar 2019 campaign and called for the investigation.

Quoting media reports, APC said the strategy meeting allegedly was to device plan on how to oust incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari.

It claimed that aside Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Peter Obi, Uche Secondus, PDP national chairman and Senate President Bukola Saraki, Director of Atiku/Obi 2019 Campaign were in attendance.

APC through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said that the purpose of the meeting may not be what the media report says, imputing sinister motives.

He alleged that the meeting may have focused on how to move illicit cash meant for the rigging of the 2019 election.

He listed other possible motives behind the meeting including sponsorship of violence in the run to the election, citing the 2015 experience when a large cache of cash was ceased en route South Africa from a private aircraft belonging to an associate of the government of PDP.

Nabena alerted that the party may have returned to its old ways.

He said: “Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi; Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus met in Dubai a few days ago according to media reports to plot strategies to oust President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s election.

“The purpose of the said meeting is both comical and ridiculous as they have held several meetings for the same purpose in Nigeria. Clearly, the meetings held in Nigeria did not yield their desired results, hence, a follow-up meeting in Dubai. But we know the way of these set of politicians and the political party they represent.

“There is more to the meeting that meets the eye. Nigeria has enough meeting/conference rooms, many of which meet international standards. It is therefore clear that the Dubai meeting is for other sinister political purposes ahead of the 2019 elections.

“Our intelligence, anti-graft and security agencies must be awake to its responsibility of investigating the Dubai meeting. Cash and carry politicians must be prevented from moving illicit cash around to induce voters and sponsor election violence and rigging.

“Again, relevant agencies must check suspicious movement of cash both locally and internationally by politically exposed persons under the guise of a “Dubai meeting” or any clandestine meeting.

“We are mindful of how millions of dollars were confiscated in an aircraft belonging in a Nigerian PDP sympathizer in South Africa in the leadup to the 2015 elections. The case of N250 million cache found in Mr. Peter Obi’s private office in Lagos remains unresolved. Another round of election is here and it is not unlikely that they are playing a repeat performance, under the guise of holding a meeting in Dubai. Our security agencies should be on the watch for a stitch in time saves nine”.