•Baraje too, may lose board chairmanship
FEDERAL Government’s crackdown on the brains behind the Baraje faction of the PDP got underway yesterday with the police withdrawing their men attached to the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, as guards and escorts.
The withdrawal came barely 48 hours to his appearance before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for another round of interrogation on the collapse of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria(SGBN) founded by his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki.
The security details are seven, including two at his residence in Abuja; three in his home in Ilorin; and the other two who are always at his call and beckon.
All the details were withdrawn yesterday allegedly on ‘orders from above’ and without any notice to the former governor.
There were strong indications that the withdrawal followed alleged security reports indicting Saraki as the arrowhead of the factionalization of the PDP.
Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, chairman of the faction to which Saraki belongs is an ally of the former governor.
It was also learnt that security reports indicated that Saraki is one of the strong pillars behind Governor Rotimi Amaechi, which led to the governor’s re-election in May as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
Although President Goodluck Jonathan had private audience with Saraki on the NGF crisis recently, it was learnt that the former governor stood his ground that Amaechi is the authentic NGF chairman.
The withdrawal of Saraki’s security aides is believed to be part of the crackdown on the ‘dissidents’ in the party.
An aide of Saraki, who spoke in confidence last night, said: “The seven policemen attached to my boss have been withdrawn. As I am talking, he has no one protecting him other than God. The policemen were withdrawn abruptly and simultaneously in Abuja and Ilorin on Saturday. No reason was given by any Police command or the Inspector-General of Police. When necessary, we will issue official statement. But it is obvious that there is a plot to expose Oga to danger.”
A source in EFCC said last night that : “We are expecting Saraki for a follow-up quizzing because former top management staff of SGBN, including the ex-MD of the bank, Robert Mbonu. As a key player in the bank, he needs to fill in more gaps in our ongoing investigation. He has more questions to answer.”
It was further gathered that the National Chairman of the New PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje’s security guards in his Abuja and Ilorin homes have been withdrawn.
He may also be dropped as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Another source added: “It is certainly a tit-for-tat policy; there is no way Baraje can remain in a government he has lost confidence in. I think he should have resigned the NRC job by now.”
Source: The Nation
