Onnenghe’s Saga: Atiku Wants France, Germany, EU, US, UK To Pile Pressure On Buhari
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has declared that even if Nigerians choose not to elect him, President Muhammadu Buhari must go to the polls on his own record of lack of respect for the Rule of Law and not on the spurious perception of his “Integrity”.
Atiku, who stated this in separate letters to the Ambassadors of France, Germany, EU, US and UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, further said that there is the need to set precedence for successive leaders not to take democratic mandate for granted.
The former vice president noted that President Buhari is threatening Nigeria’s democracy by serially breaching the provisions of the nation’s constitution and undermining organs and institutions of State in order to advance his personal interest.
He said that while President Buhari has ironically taken oath to safeguard and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the reality of his selective and wanton violations of its provisions means that his oath is observed only in the breach.
In the words of Atiku; “And as Your Excellency very much knows, respect for the rule of law is integral to promoting and preserving the values and principles of democracy. Sadly, however, by the actions of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, one is forced to think otherwise.
The PDP Presidential candidate urged the Ambassadors to pile pressure on the President Buhari-led Federal Government to desist from constitutional violations and ensure a level playing field for the General Elections that are only a couple of weeks away.
He continued; “We acknowledge with profound appreciation the positions taken by some members of the International Community in Nigeria and urge Your Excellency to add your country’s very strong voice against these breaches of Nigeria’s constitution. Your Voice is very important to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Atiku enumerated some of the constitutional infractions by President Muhammadu Buhari to include the purported Suspension of CJN Onnoghen, stressing that the action of President Buhari, not only breaches the Nigerian Constitution, but has also managed to undermine Presidential democracy by assaulting one of its hallowed doctrines of separation of Powers. He noted that the action is undoubtedly an anti-democratic act which his political Party, the PDP and himself reject without reservation and for which he urged the Ambassadors to condemn unequivocally.
The PDP Presidential flag bearer also said that the brazen authoritarian and imperious stride of President Buhari is the latest action in a series of carefully planned onslaught on the nation’s hard earned democracy by an extremely power hungry and anxious President and the cabal that feeds fat around him as February 16, 2019 draws nearer.
According to him; “The fact that the unlawful suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was announced just as it became public knowledge that the CJN was constituting the election petition tribunals is not lost on discerning Nigerians and the international community.
“This act of desperation is geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 Presidential elections. Indeed, it is not just the CJN that has been “suspended”, it is the Nigerian Constitution that has been infracted and, in effect, suspended, under the guise of the suspension of the CJN.
“Let me therefore take the opportunity of this letter to urge your country and all well-meaning members of the International community to mount pressure on this government and all its anti-democracy functionaries know that their actions will have consequences. Strong consequences.”
Other constitutional breaches by Buhari as listed by Atiku include; “The illegal purchase of two Tucano Aircrafts” for the Nigerian military in April 2018 at the cost of $496 million without seeking prior approval from the National Assembly contrary to Section 80(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), disregard for Orders of Courts as regards to Col. Sambo Dasuki (Former National Security Adviser) for who various courts granted bail on at least six different occasions but for which the Buhari led government has persistently refused to comply with the court orders and Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Leader of a Shiite Group, IMN.
Atiku also accused Buhari of approving $1 billion for military expenditure before approaching the National Assembly as well as the enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006 as an Executive legislation which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial or undergoing investigation without recourse to court orders.
The PDP Presidential candidate said the Order is clearly a usurpation of legislative and judicial powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary as enshrined respectively under sections 4 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reminiscent of the military era of Decrees.
