Violence Taints Atiku’s Visit to Delta As Thugs Cart Away Millions Presented to Delta PDP

What would had been a happy ending for his historic visit to Delta State which initially seemed to be like a carnival, ended in agony and regrets as hundreds of PDP faithful got stranded and scores injured when political thugs ran amok over the largesse given to the party by Presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is currently the major contender for the 2019 presidency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was Tuesday received in the Delta State Capital, Asaba, as part of his consultative visits to the 36 States in the country to gather delegates supports for the party primaries in August.

Journalists who throng to the Airport to monitor his arrival, were however barred from accessing his entourage as security operatives detailed for his visit resisted members of the Press from speaking with the presidential aspirant.

Same was the case at the Government House Gate as awaiting journalists were denied entrance to cover his courtesy visit to the Governor at the Exco chamber.

Hundreds of party faithfuls and support groups who patiently stood watch for Atiku’s arrival to the Unity Hall, turned the arena to a carnival like scenario as various groups sang, danced and took memorable shots to document the much awaited visit of the former Vice President.

At the end of the meeting which lasted over an hour with Delta State PDP leaders and top government officials behind closed doors at the Unity Hall, Atiku in his usual style gifted the gathering an undisclosed sum money of running into several millions.

Sadly, hell was quickly let loose when the news of the largesse broke out which led to the invasion of the hall by political thugs usually associated with the party, as they broke through the hall and gunned for the table where the money was being unwrapped.

The thugs who were wreaking with terror swiftly swooped on the PDP leaders and party faithfuls with dangerous weapons, laid hold of Atiku’s gift and scampered away with the several the millions intended for PDP members from the 25 local government areas who rallied for the visit.

These mayhem was perpetuated under the watchful eyes of security agents who appeared helpless to the foul situation which recorded various degrees of injuries and thefts of personal belongings.

Scene showing Aftermath of the Violent Attack by Thugs who Carted away Atiku’s Millions

Efforts to restore peace failed as it became a free for all affair to scavenge for possible left overs by the dreaded thugs as hundreds of party faithfuls lost hope of having a share of Atiku’s largesse.

Meanwhile, criticisms have followed the reception of the presidential aspirant, by Okowa led administration as tax payers money and apparatus of the State Government were employed to give the former Vice President an edge over his counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido who visited the state recently in pursuant of his aspiration.

According to report put forward by the Press Unit of Delta State Government, it stated that Atiku was in the state to consult the people on his aspiration for the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar informed that his aspiration to be Nigeria’s President was borne out of his passion to ensure that the country make progress, disclosing, “the security architecture of the country must be reviewed and decentralized.”

He decried situation where security agencies does not take orders from the state governors, asserting, “as an individual, I don’t think this is true federalism, we must restructure the security architecture.”

The former Vice President also listed ways to tackle unemployment in the country observing, “to create jobs, you must liberalize the economy, support the private sector, create incentives to make the private sector boom and open up the economy to foreign direct investment.”

“I will have a very small federal government with powers and resources devolved to the states to manage the affairs while they pay tax to the federal government; with this, each zone can survive on its own without leaning on oil money,” he emphasized.