By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – A group loyal to the political aspiration of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the Turaki Vanguard, has dissociated its principal from the lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Reacting to what it said was a spurious allegation by a factional chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Segun Adewale, the group said the Turaki Adamawa remained a committed chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Adewale had allegedly linked the crisis in his party to the 2019 presidential ambition of Mr Abubakar.

However, in a statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Dimeji Fabiyi, which was made available to Vanguard in Abuja Tuesday, the group said “for the umpteenth time, Atiku Abubakar remains a committed member of the ruling APC and has nothing to do with the crisis rocking the PDP.”

The statement reads: “We are alarmed to read the account of Mr. Segun Adewale on the crisis bedevilling the erstwhile ruling Peoples Democratic Party and our consternation is more confounding because of the witless attempt by the factional chairman of the PDP in Lagos State to string the Turaki Adamawa to the crisis in the PDP.

“For the umpteenth time, Atiku Abubakar remains a committed member of the ruling APC and he is not in any way tangible, connected to the crisis in the PDP or any other political party. Mr. Adewale also made spurious allegations about the Turaki Adamawa nursing a presidential ambition for 2019.

“In our opinion as a socio-political group loyal to the political cause of Atiku Abubakar, it will be a welcome development if indeed Atiku decides to contest for the president in 2019, but it will not be asking for too much if the Adewales of this world, at least, let that decision come from Atiku Abubakar rather than foist it down as a cheap campaign of calumny”.