…as group supports anti-Ambode APC faction
A pro-Buhari group, The Change Agent, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to cage all those it describes as political vampires, insisting that the President has been too soft on “characters bent on destabilising his administration and scuttling efforts to make the public know the good intentions of government.”
Speaking with our correspondent shortly after a meeting of the Lagos State chapter of the group at the weekend, the National President of The Change Agent, Hon. Dipo Okeyomi, said the group was in full support of recent arrests and quizzing of some political figures by the Department of State Service.
Okeyomi, who is also a security consultant, particularly described the arrest of the senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and a former governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, as in order, stressing that nobody was above the law, no matter how highly placed.
As far as we are concerned, all political vampires that have not allowed him to perform or are trying to destabilise his administration should be caged. What is just happening with people shouting that the opposition is under siege is a typical case of corruption fighting back, since the Buhari administration is fighting corruption
The DSS had, last week, arrested Abaribe at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where he went to attend a function. He was reportedly taken to his Abuja residence where a search was conducted on
his home.
Abaribe, who was a surety for fleeing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra at an Abuja Federal High Court, had been very critical of President Buhari and his administration’s policies, in recent
times.
Also, Suswam was picked up by the DSS over his alleged role in the Fulani herdsmen attacks in Benue, otherwise known as the Benue killings.
But justifying the arrests of the two politicians from opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Okeyomi said, “As far as we are concerned, all political vampires that have not allowed him to perform or are trying to destabilise his administration should be
caged.
“What is just happening with people shouting that the opposition is under siege is a typical case of corruption fighting back, since the Buhari administration is fighting corruption.
“Besides, the man who was picked up over allegations that he was sponsoring Benue killings under the guise that they were Fulani herdsmen attacking, should be made to clear his name through explanations, regardless of his status in the society.
“In politics, anything can happen. Anybody can sponsor crime for political vendetta or to create the impression that his opponent who is in power is weak and is incapable of
ruling.”
Okeyomi vowed that The Change Agent, which is currently on tour of some states in the country, would continue to enlighten the people on the good intentions of the current
administration.
“As far as we are concerned, nothing will stop President Buhari from being re-elected come next year. Buhari is working and Nigeria is working, but not all the good programmes of the government can be felt immediately,” he stressed.
He, however, dismissed the clamour for a younger President come next year, saying, “Look around you; there is nothing to persuade us that our youths are ready to rule. We have a young man of 42 as governor, and come and look at the terrible condition of his state
today.
“Again, Evans was arrested in Lagos recently over alleged high-profile kidnapping activities, is he not a young man? Then look at the armed robbers being paraded on a daily basis by the police, did you find any old man among them? So, we need Buhari and the advantage of his advanced age and clean profile, to lead us along,”
he said.
GROUP BACKS LAGOS APC FACTION
Meanwhile, The Change Agent, at its meeting in Lagos, gave total support to the leadership of the factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Mr. Fouad Oki.
In a communique, the body said, “No individual can impose anyone against the will of the people, as this is contrary to the spirit and letter of APC and even, democracy itself.”
The group said it would not work with the Mr. Tunde Balogun-led executive earlier inaugurated by the immediate past national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and backed by Governor Akinwumi
Ambode.
Sources in the Lagos APC, however, informed our correspondent that The Change Agent, which has over 50,000 members in Lagos alone, and which is enjoying the support of the Presidency, has resolved not to work for Ambode’s second term in
office.
When prodded on the issue, Okeyomi merely said, “Ambode’s second term aspiration is in the hands of God, as I don’t want to say anything about it; but, all I know is that he is the Governor of Lagos State and he belongs to my great party, the
APC.”