Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate, has praised the Department of State Services for questioning Femi Fani-Kayode, the Director, Special Projects and New Media of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign Council.
The DSS had to summon Fani-Kayode to explain his allegations and insinuations about an attempted coup planned by Atiku and top generals.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, in Abuja, on Monday, Atiku urged the DSS not to leave any stone unturned in the course of investigation.
He said , “We commend the DSS for the swift invitation sent out to Fani-Kayode. He must be made to explain his allegation of an attempted coup being planned by Atiku Abubakar who even during the military regime never attempted to topple the government despite having the resources.
“Fani-Kayode must also be made to reveal the identities of the so-called army generals who are plotting to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Shaibu, who described Fani-Kayode’s attempt to withdraw his comments as an afterthought, said there was an urgent need for the DSS and Nigerian authorities to ensure that the military is not brought into partisan politics.
He added, “Nigerians suffered for nearly 30 non-consecutive years battling military dictatorship. The military has since 1999 pledged its loyalty to civilian authority and returned to the barracks.
“Unfortunately, Fani-Kayode and others in Tinbubu’s camp have continued to prod the military by making allegations of coups and interim government.
“Fani-Kayode cannot be acting alone since he is the spokesman for Tinubu. Fani-Kayode and his ilk have been prodding the military for the last one month, talking about how they plan to install an interim government.
“In reaction, President Buhari set up a transition committee that will midwife a smooth transition of another government on May 29. Despite this, the likes of Fani-Kayode have continued to prod the military, propagating theories of coups.”
Atiku equally asked the DSS to also ask Fani-Kayode to explain his ties to Yoruba nation agitators, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other separatist organisations threatening the unity of Nigeria.
He said, “Fani-Kayode has been seen in many videos prodding separatists agitators to tear the country apart. He has been instigating a tribal war in Nigeria for the last six years.
“This is a man that vilified northern Muslims, describing them as blood sucking demons in a bid to instigate genocide against northerners living in the south.
“This is a man who described President Muhammadu Buhari as a brain dead walking corpse. He later said an impostor had taken over as President all in a bid to incite protests and riots in the country.
“The DSS must thus leave no stone unturned in this investigation. It is obvious that Fani-Kayode is the one plotting the collapse of the 4th Republic.”