‘VP’s allies plotting murders’

Abubakar was suspended from the ruling party on Thursday after Obasanjo published two reports accusing him of corruption.

The vice-president denies the charges and says Obasanjo is orchestrating a witch-hunt to prevent him from standing for president of Africa’s top oil producer in elections next April.

“Elements suspected to be loyal to the vice-president have become even more desperate, this time threatening the lives of some ministers,” said the president’s spokesperson Uba Sani on Friday.

“In a well laid out plan codenamed ‘Search and Destroy’, the following ministers and aides have been marked for elimination,” the statement said, listing minister of the federal capital territory Nasir el-Rufai, justice minister Bayo Ojo, information minister Frank Nweke and other Obasanjo loyalists.

No control over coercive instruments

The statement said the security agencies had been notified and suspects were being monitored.

Abubakar’s spokesperson Garba Shehu said the accusation was “laughable”.

“The vice-president has no control over the coercive instruments of state so there is no way he could use them to kill anybody.”

“We hope this statement is not giving a hint on what they intend to embark upon now.”

Shehu was arrested last week by the secret police over an alleged security threat and released after 48 hours.

Obasanjo and Abubakar have exchanged accusations of corruption, both publishing scanned copies of cheques purporting to prove the other guilty of diverting public funds.

Analysts say Obasanjo has gained the upper hand in the dispute through his control of the instruments of government, the security services and the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

Candidates are stockpiling weapons

The tussle has raised fears of instability and violence in the lead-up to the April elections, which should mark the first time one democratically elected president hands over to another since independence from Britain in 1960.

Three aspirants to be state governors have been assassinated since July and many candidates are stockpiling weapons in expectation of a bloody contest, local media have reported.

Obasanjo, a former military ruler, led Nigeria back to democracy in 1999 ending three decades of almost uninterrupted military dictatorship.

Abubakar helped defeat an attempt earlier this year to rewrite the constitution and let Obasanjo stay in office for a third term.

On Thursday a group of politicians opposed to Obasanjo revived fears that he was planning to spoil the handover.

Senator Uche Chukwumerije said politicians suspected Obasanjo of planning to delay the elections, using confusion in the electoral body as an pretext.

He said the registration of voters was not proceeding properly, despite official assurances to the contrary.