Bismillahi..
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has said his life and that of members of his family are under threat due to his decision to contest the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Nation reports that presidential aspirant made the statement in a petition to President Buhari titled “petition over criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of members of my family, and cyber stalking using mobile phone number 08148228704”.
In the document dated September 7, 2018, Atiku requested for more police protection for himself and his family following the threats.
The former vice president said separate text messages from a mobile line were sent to his wife and daughters, threatening that they will be killed if he fails to back out of the presidential race.
He urged the presidency to urgently order investigation into the matter, as it could result to serious security breach and that it posed real danger to national security.
The petition read in part: “I present my highest compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your excellency’s kind review/investigation and urgent consideration of extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyber stalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704”.
He said those issuing the threats warned that they will blow his plane off the sky and will poison him and his family. He said those behind the message noted that they know where his children travel to.
We control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa. We are in government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and if they do, we will assassinat (sic) you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane,” he quoted the threatening message as saying
Atiku stated that the messages pose a threat to his life, his freedom and his quest to contest for the presidency in Nigeria.
He said: “Considering that these threats border on the right to life of my family and I, as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the Presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person(s) behind the threats, expose and prosecute the culprit(s) in accordance with the laws.
“I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).”
