Focus on Hushpuppi not Atiku or Bukola Saraki-Protesters
Following the arrest of Hushpuppi, there has been an alleged involvement of some Nigerian top politicians. Some names were mentioned to be linked with Hushpuppi but a group of protesters numbering over a hundred, under the aegis, Anti-Corruption Network, today, converged in front of the Unity Fountain, Abuja to protest what it described as the social media trial and attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) party to drag the names of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki; former House of Representatives Leader, Yakubu Dogara, Former Senator, Dino Melaye and other PDP members to the mud by alleging they have links with Hushpuppi.
The group, went on to condemn the act by the APC, who wants to implicate the alleged mentioned names, the group, however, said that Atiku and the former lawmakers are Democrats who should be commended for their roles in bringing growth to Nigeria.
Please do recall that the suspected Nigerian internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi was recently arrested in Dubai and extradited to the United States of America (USA) where he is currently facing trial. Though he was known for his flashy lifestyle and has had some little misunderstanding with some to Nigerian Celebrities.
Meanwhile, following Hushpuppi’s arrest, the APC had called for the probe of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, including Atiku, Saraki, Dogara, Melaye and Timi Frank for appearing in certain photographs with the suspect many months back.
But the alleged people named to be linked with him such as Atiku, Saraki, Dogara, and Frank have, in separate statements, have denied any business connection or link with the suspect.
Furthermore, during the protest which had numerous numbers of people present, the convener of the group, Mr. Odih Rowland corroborated PDP’s earlier statement and described the call for the arrest and probe of some of the party’s prominent members over alleged links to Hushpuppi as “reckless, irresponsible and a cheap blackmail,” saying it further exposed a victimization agenda of the APC.
The group expressed their undistracted support for those alleged to be linked with Abbas and said Atiku, Saraki, Dogara, Melaye and those accused are prominent Nigerians with good track record known beyond Africa and that attempt to bring their good names to ridicule would be vehemently condemned by the group. It, however, called on the president to investigate the Hushpuppi case as well as focus on fixing the economy to save Nigeria instead of allowing his party to distract him in trying to drag the names of Atiku and others to the mud.
According to Mr. Rowland, “we are here to ask Mr. President to investigate who and who are behind Hushpuppi. Calling on the PDP that they are behind Hushpuppi, that is a big lie. The APC should not drag the name of Atiku into this. The PDP will not accept it.”
“Atiku is a Democrat. Bukola Saraki is a Democrat; Dogara is a Democrat. We say no to the intimidation. No more social media trial.
“We are calling on Mr. President to say enough is enough. Mr. President should go and investigate who is behind Hushpuppi. Stop insulting our leaders. Our leaders are doing the right things. Focus on the economy to save Nigeria. The President should set up a panel to investigate Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi is criminal and Nigerian youths are not part of Hushpuppi,” He said.
Ayooluwa Joshua