By Adadainfo
Media reports of plans to assassinate the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are the handiwork of mischief-makers.
This was the verdict of the Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide while reacting to the report.
The group’s national president, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in a statement, assured Atiku and other presidential candidates in the forthcoming general elections of their safety in Southeast.
He urged them to feel free in marketing their manifestoes to the people of the region, describing Ndigbo as ‘hospitable’.
Nnabuike, in the statement, said, “We received with concern the statement credited to IPOB, wherein they alleged that there was a plot to assassinate the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the Southeast.
“We want to make it clear that no such plot exists anywhere in Igboland. Ndigbo are known for their hospitality and this has not changed.
“The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has an Igbo man, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, as his running mate for the election. He’s also an in-law to Ndigbo and should therefore feel free to come to the Southeast for his campaign any day any time.”
Ohanaeze’s clarification was sequel to an alarm raised by the head of publicity of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr Emma Powerful, claiming that there were plans to kill Atiku in Southeast.
Powerful claimed in the statement that a group ‘is planning to assassinate Atiku Abubakar in the southeastern part of Nigeria and claim it is done by unknown gunmen, ESN/IPOB, or the Obidient group’.
Quoting him, “We are drawing the attention of Biafrans around Nigeria to be very careful and cautious of this evil plot primarily targeted at Peter Obi and IPOB.
“Their plans are to turn other ethnic groups in Nigeria against Ndigbo and possibly thwart the proposed selection process called 2023 election.
“The Agendists are jittery about losing the election or Nigeria’s breakup against their political and economic gains.
“Ndigbo in Lagos and many major cities in Nigeria should be on alert. Plans to attack them have been perfected, and it may consume a lot of people, and many properties may be destroyed.
“The hatchet plan will be done in such a way that the International Community will blame Ndigbo for the crisis.
“We advise every Igbo person to stay alert and take all precautionary measures to defend and protect himself and herself. The plan of these agendists is to create confusion and pandemonium in every part of the country to scuttle the upcoming election.
“We are warning the genocidists to stay off because their evil agenda will bounce back and destroy them.
“Our intelligence through the M-Branch is fighting tooth and nail to uncover their next move. Many top politicians are involved in this agenda to cause a crisis in Nigeria.”
