By Samaila Bayo, Birnin Kebbi
The advisory council of the Abubakar Chika Malami political movement under the African Democratic Congress,(ADC) has said his growing political popularity and the mammoth crowd that trailed his convoy triggered the violent attack launched against him few meters away from his private residence in Birnin Kebbi.
The Advisory Council Chairman of the ADC in the state, Shehu Aliyu Sambawa in a release made available to Daily Trust on Wednesday said the failed attempt to dismiss or whitewash the criminal conduct of the APC thugs was done out of desperation in the way the party offered different versions of how he was attacked. "The fact remains undeniable that the thugs emerged from the party headquarters and retreated back therein after the assassination attempt", it said.
He said the news of the minister's arrival spread like wild fire in the State Capital and people from all walks of life trooped to see and/ join his convoy at each of the venues of his scheduled visit, just to catch a glimpse him. "No member of his entourage carried any campaign poster, symbol of the ADC, or aired recorded music or played musical instrument. The recorded procession evidenced by social media clips widely circulated attest to this undeniable fact", it said.
The ADC advisory chairman said Senator Muhammad Adamu AIiero and some of the senators backing the attack on the former minister are known to rise above partisan politics or consideration, especially on the important matter of security of lives and property but now joined the ranks of the attackers to make baseless allegations that are opposed to the reality of the sad incident.
"We would have expected the Senators to condemn the incident and in no uncertain terms, call for calm and a thorough investigation, as well as prosecution, of all those involved in the conception, planning and execution of the failed attempt to assassinate the former Minister", it said.
He bemoaned Senator Aliero for casting aspersions and allegations against the person of Malami in a criminal matter, he knew nothing about but chose to speak in a speculative manner and make conjunctures that are devoid of logic.
"Where was Senator Aliero and the legislators he dragged to his press briefing at the NASS, when the sad incident took place? None of them was anywhere near the infamous scene of the deadly attack in Birnin-Kebbi.
"For the record, Malami visited his birth place, Birnin-Kebbi, to condole His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gwandu, a close family friend and the families of two other renowned Islamic Scholars. Now, who will use a moment of grief, for any mundane affair, talk less of partisan election campaign", he said.
