The Concerned Nigerian Patriots for a Sustainable Future says the plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to arrest opponents will be resisted

THE International community has been called upon to pressurise President Muhammad Buhari to keep to promise made to British Prime Minister in 2018 to conduct free and fair elections as well as ensure liberty of his opponents.

The call was made in a statement signed by Adebola Eze Sakir, the president of the Concerned Nigerian Patriots For A Sustainable Future, CNPFSF, made available to newsmen on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

“Furthermore we call on the international community to apply all possible pressure on President Buhari to keep his promise to the British Prime Minister in August 2018 and the Nigerian people to hold “free and fair elections” which includes the liberty of his opponents to stand freely and without any form of pretences or artificial hindrances,” it stated.

The group expressed fears that Buhari is bent on introducing the tragic years of his military regime, by arresting political opponents.

“Instead we have received top information by the Buhari regime to re-enact the tragic years of his military tyranny of 1983-1985 by arresting and incarcerating his perceived enemies to include leaders of the opposition, traditional rulers, members of the organised labour, journalists, social media interactors and Nigerian judges,” it stressed.

It explained that the signs are crystal clear, hence the need to call on the need for international community to intervene.

“The signs are crystal. A few days ago, Lai Mohammed , Information Minister boasted that the former Vice President and the main opposition candidate in the upcoming elections Mr Atiku Abubakar will be arrested on charges bothering on alleged N156 million fraud perpetrated in the erstwhile Bank PHB in 2009. The bank has since metamorphosed into Keystone Bank,” it pointed out.

The group noted that recently, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, called on the federal government to investigate the buy-over of the Keystone Bank. “Till today, no serious efforts have been made to verify and or refute the corrupt enrichment associated with it,” it said.

The group said further: “We hereby unequivocally condemn any plans to arrest Mr Atiku Abubakar or any senior members of the main opposition party, the PDP and their perceived enemies just three weeks away from our national elections.

“We note that the APC Government has been in power for almost four years with access to all Government records and levels of power yet planning to choose this timing to make spurious and unsubstantiated accusations against its main opponent.

“Furthermore we call on the international community to apply all possible pressure on President Buhari to keep his promise to the British Prime Minister in August 2018 and the Nigerian people to hold “free and fair elections” which includes the liberty of his opponents to stand freely and without any form of pretences or artificial hindrances.

“Gen. Buhari should toe the line of patriotism by borrowing a lead from President Goodluck Jonathan, who in spite of provocations, threats and intimidation held a national election without ANY ARRESTS or DETENTION of his opponents and accept the outcome with equanimity and remains a hero for posterity.

“We believe in the unity of Nigeria and will NEVER allow the selfish and narcissistic desires of a few to truncate our beloved country. We will resist to the last man any acts that will bring crisis or coerced confusion in Nigeria,” the group said.

– Jan. 21, 2019 @ 12:45 GMT |