A combined team of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) yesterday invaded the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo and reportedly carted away bags of undisclosed amount of money in Pounds and Dollars.
This is as the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday raised the alarm that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was plotting forceful take-over of states it won in the last general elections and warned that such ambition should stopped forthwith.
Also, Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, blasted the invasion of the government House, Uyo as a violation of the sanctity of the place and politicisation of security in the country by the DSS.
Sources close to the State Government House told THISDAY that the team shortly on arrival seized the phones of some of the workers in strategic offices in the government house to block them from outside communication.
THISDAY gathered that on arrival, the team went straight to the State Presidential lodge located within the Government House premises and broke the iron and mental door of a mini bank or safe built in the lodge.
The source said members of the team dragged out bags of money suspected to be of hard currencies saying their visit to the State Presidential Lodge to pack such huge amount of money may have been on a tip off.
Our Correspondent gathered that although the former Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Akpabio has left office, he was still in-charge of the Presidential lodge.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah refused to pick the phone when THISDAY made efforts to reach him.
National Chairman of PDP, Chief Uche Secondus made the allegations of forceful takeover by APC while receiving nomination form for the Bayelsa State governorship primary from Governor Seriake Dickson at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
Secondus said the party was alerting the nation and the international community on the alleged plot by the APC-federal government to forcefully take Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Abia and Taraba states from the PDP having shown dissatisfaction over the outcome of the governorship election in those areas.
“Let me alert the nation that a few hours ago, there was a civilian coop d’état in Akwa Ibom State where the Department of Security Services (DSS) under the leadership the Director General, Lawman Daura invaded the Akwa Ibom Government House, ransacked the entire government House looking for the Governor to kidnap,” he said.
Secondus said a situation whereby security agencies consistently assaulted states controlled by the PDP was unacceptable .
“Again we want to alert this nation that it is part of the strategy of the APC and its administration to forcefully take Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Abia and Taraba states because they are not satisfied with taking over the federal government, they want to now take over all the states controlled by the PDP. This nation belongs to us all, both PDP and APC. A situation where they consistently assaulted states controlled by the PDP.
We want the international community to be aware of the situation. Is this how PDP ruled during its days? No .
“Let it be on record that we said enough is enough. Our South-south Publicity Secretary will be updating the party on further developments. It will get to a stage where we will invite the international community to hear our cry. We are stating here that we will not tolerate any act of intimation and harassment by the operatives of the DSS,” he said.
Speaking on the party’s primary elections in Kogi and Bayelsa, the national chairman assured all the aspirants that the process would be open and transparent.
“For us in the NWC we promise to conduct free, honest and transparent primary elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. We will ensure a process that will be acceptable to the people of Kogi and Bayelsa states. Today we affirm that we are going to keep to our rules and party constitution. After the primary, if you are successful we will come to Bayelsa to campaign with you. This party must be open to all. This party must be taken back to the grassroots”, he said.
Dickson while addressing Journalists after submitting his nomination form said PDP was in firm control of affairs in the state and would definitely coast home to victory during the December governorship election.
“I am here to submit my nomination form. You have seen my supporters from all parts of the state and this is a practical testimony of the support being enjoyed by PDP. Bayelsa is in safe hands of the PDP. All the leaders and stakeholders who came with him here are the people who have been making people win elections.
Dickson said he will formally declare his intention to run for a second term on Tuesday.
“No other party has the kind of support that PDP enjoys in the state. No shaking for PDP in Bayesla. It is not when a few people defect to other platforms that we will be affected. Political victory is achieved through concrete structures not rented crowd
He dismissed claims by some defected members of the PDP in the state that they had the support of elders, saying there were parading imaginary elders.
“I am running for office not on basis of promises but I talk about what I have done. If you ask me whether we are where we want to be, I will be the first person to say no and that is why I am offering to run for a second term,” he said.
Lamenting the alleged politicisation of the Security service under President Muhammadu Buhari, Fayose said Daura was allegedly acting in a manner that could portray Nigeria as operating military government, which he described as dangerous and inimical to the country’s democratic growth and should be sacked.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti Friday, Fayose said it was quite unfathomable that Daura had allegedly turned the secret services to attacking dogs, reminding him that efforts to drag the country back to years of autocracy , when people’s rights were being abridged, would be resisted by all Nigerians.
“His actions as the DG DSS are regrettable, unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable because he has come to symbolise dictatorship, which democracy abhors”, Fayose said.
