The National Working Committee (NWC), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday declared that its presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 election and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s comments on national issues have been patriotic and within his constitutional right of freedom of speech.
The opposition party said that intelligence available to it largely posits that the threats against Atiku emanated from certain persons around the Buhari Presidency, who are jittery that President Muhammadu Buhari’s defence is collapsing at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, for which they have become desperate to use underhand methods to stop Atiku Abubakar.
The PDP in a statement while responding to claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC), that Atiku was acting like a shadow president by issuing statements that are supposed to be issued by the President, stressed that Atiku has every right, not only as a citizen of the Federal Republic, but also a former Vice President, as well as a leader and Presidential candidate of the PDP, the party that commands the followership and solidarity of overwhelming majority of Nigerians.
The statement which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan noted that the statement by the APC ‘warning’ Atiku against making comments on the state of the nation and that “his patriotic reactions to pressing national issues amount to a felony are far from the truth.
The PDP emphatically stated that as a responsible political party, it boldly state that none of the statements made by its presidential candidate falls within the realm of felony in anyway whatsoever.
The opposition party therefore invite Nigerians to note that the renewed allegations against Atiku Abubakar came after a witness told the court, as has been publicly reported, that the Nigerian Army never required any enlisted officer to submit his WAEC certificate, in total contradiction to claims that President Buhari’s certificates were in the custody of the Army.
The statement further states; “Our party counsels the APC to rather get ready for justice instead of seeking ways to frame Atiku Abubakar on flimsy and unconstitutional grounds.
“Moreover, the APC is reminded that while the PDP was in power, it never gagged the APC and its leaders, including President Buhari, from exercising their freedom of speech and freedom after speech, in line with our laws.
“We note that General Muhammadu Buhari issued over 160 statements while he was in the opposition, including inflammatory remarks like the one that called on his supporters to take their fate in their own hands. It is instructive to note that none of the PDP administrations threatened General Buhari over such comments.
“Furthermore, it is quite disturbing that the APC is attacking Atiku Abubakar for commending British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for appointing 39 years old Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch, as a minister in his cabinet.
“Contrary to President Buhari’s projection to the world that Nigerian youths are lazy and should not be given active role in governance in our country, other nations are finding accommodation for our youths. Atiku Abubakar cannot but commend such world leaders, no matter whose ox is gored,” PDP posited.
The Party said that it is also instructive to note that the APC has further shown its disdain for the Nigerian youth as being demonstrated by President Buhari, whose cabinet has no place for youths.
The PDP advised that instead of attacking Atiku Abubakar for standing for energetic and focused young men and women, the expectation of Nigerians is that APC will accept its failures and advise President Buhari against total disregard for young Nigerians.
It also said; “Furthermore, the PDP notes the reference by APC to President Buhari as a “sitting” President. Our party, however, states that what Nigeria needs at a time like this is a working President, not a President that sits down while our country becomes the world headquarters of poverty; not a President that relaxes in an arm-chair while insecurity festers and our economy continues to nosedive to the extent that Ghana has overtaken our nation as the number one recipient for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in West Africa.
“This is why the PDP stands with Nigerians in their determination to retrieve Atiku Abubakar’s stolen mandate at the tribunal and no amount of threats by the APC can detract from this resolve.”
