I have been marked for assassination - Buhari’s aide cries out

macfranc007 October 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, a senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters, says some suspects who tried to attack him at a rally in Kano have been detained by the police

- Sumaila calls on the police and the relevant security agencies to rescue him from his alleged attackers

- Ganduje emerges Kano APC's guber candidate with 2.7m votes, makes first statement

Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, a senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters has alleged that his life is under threat from his political opponents.

The presidential aide who is also a senatorial aspirant for Kano south senatorial district, claimed that a rival politician, Senator Kabiru Gaya, is threatening his life, This Day reports.

Sumaila made the allegation at an emergency press briefing held in Kano on Sunday, September 30, where he alleged that a former chairman of Sumaila local government area (LGA) and campaign director of Senator Kabiru Gaya, Alhaji Abdulhamid Idris Rimi, led a group of unknown persons and attempted to attack him, while he was addressing over 3000 All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters who had gathered for the party's governorship primary in the state.

He said some suspected assailants who confronted him have been arrested and have being interrogated by the police.

The statement from Kawu Sumaila read: “I am at the Press Centre to acquaint you on recent happenings in Sumaila town in Sumaila Local Government Area.

“You are aware that APC in Kano is conducting direct primary elections across the state to endorse our leader, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who has been adopted as the sole candidate of the party.”

"However, today (Sunday) around 12 noon, when I visited my ward in Sumaila town to participate in the process of selecting the sole candidate of our party, the party leadership in the ward gave me an opportunity to address the party faithful numbering over 4,000.

“I was telling them the process and the importance to make sure that we put our hands on deck to endorse Governor Ganduje and President Buhari and give maximum cooperation to consolidate on their gains in the second term.

“As I was speaking to them, a former chairman of Sumaila Local Government Area who happens to be the Campaign Director of my opponent, Senator Kabiru Gaya, approached me, asking me about the election materials and officials.

“I told him that they just arrived and that was the reason why we were about to start our own. I told him that all the officials and materials are all here. “Immediately I finished answering his questions, I suspected some strange faces coming very close to me.

“Some people, about eight of them approached me. I became suspicious because of the way they were behaving and I observed that they were not members of Sumaila community. I quickly put a call across to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) because I perceived danger coming.

“Even as I was on call, they kept coming close to me and I suspected that they were carrying dangerous weapons. Then, I quickly draw the attention of my security details. They apprehended them; and discovered that they were armed with dangerous weapons.”

The presidential aide said the police arrested two suspects, including Senator Kabiru Gaya’s campaign director for the failed attack on him.

He said upon interrogation, police discovered that the suspects were not from Sumaila ward and had no business being there at that point in time.

“Now, we have evidence which I will tell the whole world clearly that some people whom I suspect are from my political opponent are attempting to eliminate me because this is the only way they win the election," he said.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

“They are creating unnecessary tension; they are heating the polity to eliminate me to achieve their political goal. Therefore, my prayer is for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Buhari, Inspector General of Police and all relevant security agencies to come my rescue.”

The Kano police command is yet to make any official statement over the alleged incident as the command’s spokesperson, SP Musa Magaji Majia, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Meanwhile, Senator Kabiru Gaya is yet to react to the allegations against him as his cell phones could not be reached.

In another report, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with 2,740,847 votes.

Ganduje, unopposed in the exercise, was declared as the candidate of the party by the chief returning officer of the just concluded primary poll, Pius Odudu, Daily Trust reports.

Expressing his satisfaction with the election result, the governor commended the peaceful conduct of the election and party members for their support for his re-election ambition.

Speaking through his deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ganduje urged party members across the country to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari during the forthcoming 2019 presidential election.

Buhari to Contest for Presidency in 2019! Naij.com TV