Nigerian newspapers this week played up the face-off between the erstwhile number two citizen, Abubakar Atiku, and his former political party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also on the front burner was another political story bothering on the second term ambition or otherwise of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Alhaji Atiku had earlier in the week said the PDP was not a credible platform to take the country to the promised land and, of course, he was taken up by the party leadership which argued that while he was in the party, he never saw anyth ing wrong or bad about it but that now that he is out of the party, he wants to destroy it.
Issues reached a breaking point Thursday when the government withdrew the police security aides of the former VP.
The story was headlined “Atiku security detail withdrawn” in the Nigerian Tribune; “Atiku Escorts Withdrawn…Aide fingers Presidency… Adeniyi: Yar’Adua notre sponsible” Thisday and “Police strips Atiku of security details” in the Vanguard.
It was “Police withdraw Atiku’s security aides…say he had excess…Ex-VP free to return to PDP if… Ogbulafor” in the Punch and “Atiku, govt. trade words over security aides”, the Guardian. All national newspapers used the story generously on their cover.
Although the withdrawal of Atiku’s police aides was yet to be publicised, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Communication, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, made it public while reacting to the alleged reaction of the former VP’s press aides over the issue.
Adeniyi absolved the Presidency and Yar’Adua of complicity in the withdrawal, telling newsmen to rather ask the Inspector General of Police who is in charge of providing such security details.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its weekly meeting last week said it was withdrawing police details attached to certain categories of Nigerians, including court judges, but the decision concerning judges was greeted with vehement condemnation.
However, the VP’s security aides were not listed among those to be affected.
The last is yet to be heard about the withdrawal of Atiku’s security detail as Nigerians have started criticising the move as over-politicisation of issues and a sheer political vendetta, especially as it came a few days after the former VP criticised the government over its electoral reform and the absence of good governance.
Another story that got a major play in the media during the week is the faceoff between some Senators from the ruling PDP and their party, over whether or not President Yar’Adua should run for a second term when his current term expires in 2011.
The Senators were said to have asked the President not only to clarify his stand, but to also concentrate on governance, otherwise they will not support him.
PDP chairman Vincent Ogbulafor immediately diswoned the Senators, triggering an intense media interest.
The story was headlined “Yar’Adua’ll determine his fate – Senators… Dismiss worries over his health” in the Tribune; “PDP Senators: We’re Not Opposed to Yar’ Adua” Thisday and “2011: Yar’Adua’s plan not known to us, says Senators”, the Punch.