Policemen have taken over the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja to stave off presumed violent protests against the caretaker leadership of the party.
As of 11:20am, the policemen in about five hilux vans were strategically positioned along the Blantyre Street of the secretariat which was recently rechristened “Buhari House” is located.
Security sources, according to Vanguard, said intelligence reports indicate that the controversy which had recently trailed the validity of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the party could snowball into violent protests, hence the need to take proactive measures to avert such occurrence.
As early as 9 am 10 Hilux Pickup patrol vans fully loaded with policemen were strategically positioned along Blantyre Street where the party secretariat is located.
Four police vans were positioned around the main gate to the secretariat, while six others were stationed at the three major entrance to the street, while another set of six non-branded vehicles were on surveillance in the environs.
The car park outside the secretariat was condoned off. Nobody was allowed to park cars outside the secretariat. But, party employees, reporters and visitors were allowed entrance into the secretariat, while members of the public went about their business unmolested.
Senator Akpanudoedehe said policemen were there at the instance of the party.
“The police is here to strengthen the leadership Governor of Buni, the caretaker chairman of the APC. What do I mean by that? Whenever you read a security situation, Whenever we are privy to a security report, it is incumbent on our part to strengthen Secretariat so that we can protect the lives and property of APC members.
“APC cannot be embarrassed because this is a national government, therefore we take measures to restore any happenings, we cannot underestimate security report. We cannot play down on it. We have a security report, we can’t take laws into our hands, you can’t expect us to call thugs to defend the national secretariat. The right thing to do is to inform the police and the SSS that they may know what has happened.
“We are going to take more measures. Another measure we want to take is that if you don’t have your face mask, because of the delta variant. You will not be able to come to the National Secretariat. That doesn’t mean that the air force has taken over the Secretariat because of the extension of covid 19. So that is what it is. Is a measure to protect the property and lives.
“If you have a protest and now you a media man you may be killed or brutalized. It will be big news that somebody has been short at the National Secretariat. It is our responsibility as managers of this party to put measures to protect you, your lives, and your property.
Akpanudoedehe added: “No one should take anything for granted as little as rumor we must have to put everything in place, even the one that is not verifiable, a just rumor we must put it in place because we cannot be embarrassed.
“ I am privileged to have been the Minister of FCT, I am privileged to have been a local government chairman, I am privileged to have sat on the federal executive council and I have been privileged to have sat as member security and intelligence committee of the Senate. So what we consider to be a threat is not what we consider to be a threat. A mere word that you passed by we would heighten it because we don’t want to be embarrassed.”
When asked if there is opposition to the chairman, following the Supreme Court judgment may have to necessitate the invitation of police?
The Secretary dismissed the insinuation, claiming that the position of the party chairman was not under any threat. “How can the chairman position be threatened? No his position is not to threaten don’t carry rumors. Read the judgment of the Supreme Court. The chairman is as firm as ever,” the Secretary insisted.
But the police team numbering over 30 strategically positioned themselves within the secretariat along Blantyre street, without harassing passersby and the motorists using the street.
However, the gun-wielding, battle ready policemen did not allow any vehicle park within secretariat vicinity, including those from the staff, the visitors and the journalists that arrived there early.
In fact, as at 11am, the usually bubbling secretariat was still like a ghost town, as the presence of the security agencies was scaring to many people, including the staff and visitors.
On inquiry from one of the security details attached to the party secretariat, it was gathered that the security agents acted on security report that certain persons have been mobilised to stage demonstration at the party secretariat on Monday.
“You don’t expect the party’s national leadership to fold their hands in the face of such threatening security report. They don’t want to take chances or watch the situation degenerate to the days of Oshiomhole when activities in the party was grounded hence the decision to mobilise the security agencies to protect the secretariat against any attack,” the security personnel said.
Vanguard / The Nation / The Sun
