On Sunday, the nation’s major political parties voiced their opposition to the proposal of excluding the Federal Capital Territory from their campaign and rally calendar.
In separate interviews with Newsmen, representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, and New Nigerian Peoples Party stated that taking such action would amount to giving in to those responsible for the Abuja terror scare.
By Friday, five commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province and 30 fighters had been detained as a result of a joint operation between the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, the police, and other security services that had successfully demolished a terror cell.
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The suspects were captured at their hiding places in various parts of Abuja, Mararaba, and other satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory.
The arrests were made as tensions in the nation’s capital rose as the well-known Jabi Lake Mall on Thursday closed its doors to patrons and customers due to a security crisis.
Festus Keyamo, the Chief Spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, felt that canceling political campaigns and rallies in response to the security concern in the nation’s capital was insufficient.
Keyamo suggested that such a choice be made in cooperation with the PCC security directorate, similar to the one the ruling party established.
He said, “It depends on the information available to them. As I speak with you now, nobody has the intelligence the people who raised the alarm possess. Whether they are credible or not, we don’t know. That’s why I said political parties can only act on the information available to them.
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“I am not in a position to speak on whether it will be risky for the APC to cancel or postpone its campaign in Abuja. The decision can only be made by the party after due consultation with the PCC Directorate of Security. I don’t want to play to the gallery by making a wild comment.
“Don’t forget that we have not even brought a timetable for the campaign yet. So we cannot be talking about rescheduling the order of timetable for rallies because we don’t even have one yet.”
In a similar development, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the Chief Spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, urged caution and calm.
He contends that those who have made up their minds to band together in order to bring about a change in government shouldn’t be prohibited from entering the FCT.
He also urged Abuja’s security authorities to take charge, work to prevent the terror threat from spreading, and do everything in their power to win back the public’s trust.
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“We have to be resolute and determined as a people. If they continue to instil fear in us, we will be unable to do anything. So I suggest that our people should be vigilant and steadfast and continue to do what they are meant to do. Let them move along.
“We also encourage our security apparatus to do what is right and protect the lives and property of the Nigerian people. But the idea of tagging Abuja a no-go area for campaigns is a big no for us,” he stated.
Ladipo Johnson, the spokesperson for the NNPP campaign council, on the other hand, urged political parties to actively seek ways to cooperate with the Department of State Security.
Johnson also cautioned parties against becoming overly zealous in their desire to gain political clout at the expense of their supporters.
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He stated, “Each party must consult seriously and I think at this stage all the political platforms must carry along the DSS in planning their programmes. We cannot be cowed into submission by terrorists or bandits. It is what we have to face as a people, which is part of what these parts of elections are about. Insecurities are the failure of government to guarantee and protect the lives and properties of citizens in the country.
“We must all be responsible, especially to our supporters, so as not to put them in harm’s way. At the same time, we shouldn’t all panic and put the state in comatose. I think that each party will work on their security, go farther than they will normally and, at the same time, make sure the DSS and the police are on top of their game and give proper advisory at this stage.
“As I said the other day, we don’t want to lose anybody, whether they are in opposition or not. The lives of Nigerians are too important for that. But I don’t think we should put our hands up and say no more movement because of the threat.”
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