Thugs destroy Atiku’s campaign office, torch Gombe PDP Secretariat

• Ex-VP meets Babangida in Minna

Suspected political thugs yesterday in Gombe State vandalised the North East Zone campaign office of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The edifice, which serves as zonal office for Atiku’s campaigns ahead of the 2023 presidential election, had it windows broken while other items like air conditioners were carted away.

Earlier, the thugs had burnt the Gombe State secretariat of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was gathered that the suspects stormed the party secretariat, located along Bauchi Road at about 1:30am.

According to witnesses, the personnel of the Fire Service with assistance from men of the Nigeria Police Force helped to extinguish the fire at the PDP secretariat.

Reacting to the incident, the state PDP Chairman, retired General Audu Abnon Kwaskebe, said the attack was politically motivated and urged members of the party to remain calm.

He said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Ishola Babaita, has visited the secretariat and assured them that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

Meanwhile, State PRO of APC, Mr Moses Kyari, alleged that it was PDP members that set their office on fire, “due to internal crisis over control of the party structure.”

Addressing newsmen at the APC secretariat, he alleged that the suspected thugs also touched a structure bearing posters of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

Also, briefing newsmen in Gombe, National Coordinator of North-East Business Communities Atiku for President 2023, Dr Aliyu Adamu, described the incident as unfortunate.

Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the ugly incident which it blamed on political thugs, “acting under the clear instruction and supervision of the enemies of the peace-loving people of the state.”

The state’s Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mr Julius Ishaya Lepes, described the incident as a show of desperation by those “who lost control of the state treasury and are hell-bent on returning.”

Meanwhile, Atiku yesterday had a closed-door meeting with former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), at his uphill residence in Minna, capital of Niger State.

Addressing journalists, Atiku said he was not in Niger for consultation over presidential ambition, adding that his aspiration for 2023 will be made public when the time comes.

“I am on courtesy call; that is all. On the 2023 presidential moves, I will let you know at the appropriate time. On insecurity, I have just discussed it with the governor; it is a very sympathetic situation.

“In fact, I got a very vivid picture of what is going on in Niger State from the governor. It is most unfortunate,” he said.