Group Condemns Harassment of Atiku by Security Officials

By Dipo Olowookere

A group known as Turaki Vanguard has vehemently condemned the treatment meted out to the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the airport on Sunday.

In a statement signed by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr Innocent Edwin, Turaki Vanguard described this as “embarrassing.”

The group said the searching of Mr Atiku by the combined team of security forces at the nation’s airport upon his arrival to Nigeria yesterday was also disappointing.

“We wonder what the security officials are looking for in the jet of a senior citizen and statesman like the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar?” the group asked in the statement.

“Is it not ridiculous that our security personnel who are supposed to guard and protect Nigerians are the very ones terrorising and terrifying the people?

“What is the offence of Turaki Adamawa for returning to Nigeria safely?” it further queried.

Turaki Vanguard noted that, “There is no doubt that the security personnel has given us a pointer of what they plan to do to our leader and other opposition figures during campaigns for 2019 elections.”

“While we condemn that action in its entirety, we call on the international community to come to our rescue as our democracy is facing serious threat from the tyrannical government of President Buhari.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar can never be intimidated or cowed by the repressive regime in to abandoning his presidential project in Nigeria.

“Nigerians should ready themselves to defend the democratic legacy bequeathed to us by our founding fathers,” the statement said.