Government agencies intimidating Atiku ahead of 2019 - Timi Frank
- The deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has expressed concerns about the of some federal government agencies
- Frank particularly singled out the recent actions of the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority
- Frank stated that both agencies were frustrating the political ambition of former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by crippling his private business interests
A chieftain of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has frowned at the recent actions by two federal government agencies - the FIRS and the NPA.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Monday, October 16, Comrade Frank berated the agencies for offering themselves as willing tools to frustrate the private business interests of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The Nigerian media was awash recently with stories that the federal government had terminated the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the NPA had with Intels Nigeria Limited.
Intels, Nigeria's biggest oil and gas logistics firm is owned by Adamawa-born Atiku Abubakar.
READ ALSO: Atiku Abubakar lists all the companies he owns
The former vice president has never hidden his ambition to return to the corridors of power and had began subtle campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Many see the move of the federal government as a ploy to cripple the financial war chest of the former vice president ahead of the polls.
Comrade Frank, a staunch ally of Atiku from their days in the Peoples Democratic Party, stated that the NPA's action is a ploy to weaken Atiku due to his perceived ambition for 2019.
Part of his statement read: “Nigeria as it is today has a lot going on and this latest brazen acts by government agencies is the least on the minds of Nigerians.
“We encourage government agencies to do their work but also take note that governance should not be reduced as a tool to witch hunting individuals, by playing petty politics.
“I see this as an intimidation coming from agencies of government of the day on an innocent Nigerian.
“Atiku Abubakar has paid his dues for the party in particular and the country as a whole. We must not be cowed by this agencies of government who wants to turn themselves to political actors to gain favour from the government of the day.
“Today it is Atiku, tomorrow it can be any other person and for this purpose we must all stand against this impunity.”
Comrade Frank wondered why the FIRS just realized the non-payment of tax by intels and also why the Export Free Zone just realized that Intels is operating illegally, at a time Atiku was gearing up for to contest in 2019.
He continued: “My thoughts are that some political leaders who are afraid of his profile are hell bent on truncating his perceived ambition are behind all these.
“I want to believe that the presidency is not aware of this over bearing and over zealousness on the part of these government agencies. By this, I plead with the presidency to promptly intervene on this matter appropriately in due course before it gets late.
“The act of the FIRS, NPA, and FTZ as agencies of government is and can be seen to be a calculated attempt to humiliate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It is pertinent to note that in the history, since the establishment of Intels, no central government has ever brazenly persecuted Intels like this present government.
“Nigerians must rise up to any attempt of vilifying any individual in the guise of over zealousness of government agencies.”
Five months ago, the presidency had through a letter dated Friday, May 5, issued to the managing director of Josepdam Port Services Limited, broken the seeming dominance of Intels over logistics handling at Onne.
Intels, had during the privatization exercise done by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration won the concession to operate the terminal at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone and through it, took dominion over the sector.
The new government policy aims to remove the advantages of Intels and allow other operators into the sector.
READ ALSO: Resignation or sack: The untold dilemma of Buhari’s ministers
2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
