Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has said that there was no way he could have validated electoral banditry because doing so would have amounted to a rape on the conscience of Nigerians who have struggled for years to entrench electoral integrity.
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 election, stressed that consent is essential to democratic mandate, adding that ruling people against their will undermines everything democracy stands for.
Atiku, who stated these on Thursday, September 7, 2023, while reacting to a statement purportedly issued by him, declared that he did not issue any statement congratulating President Bola Tinubu over the outcome of the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
A statement by the his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe while reacting to the purported congratulatory statement, described it as fake news being orchestrated by those desperately looking for validation for the usurpation of the mandate of Nigerians.
Atiku said; “if their conscience is clear and they are convinced that their victory is valid, they don’t have to blackmail their political opponents into congratulating them through fake news.
“Why should a man be desperate for validation? Does truth require validation? Why should you issue a congratulatory statement and attribute it to Atiku if your conscience is not troubled by the electoral heist you have perpetrated,” he queried.
He said that contrary to the fake news being circulated by Tinubu propagandists, he has already asked his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the election petition tribunal.
In the words of Atiku; “To confirm that the purported message is fake and pedestrian, it was addressed to the “President-elect.” Though we know it is a pyrrhic victory, is it not ridiculous to still address Bola Tinubu as “President-elect” five months after swearing-in?
“This struggle is not about Atiku; it’s about Nigeria and the future of our democracy. By allowing election riggers to get away with their misdeeds, our democracy will be in greater jeopardy.
Atiku said that he is not going into retirement and will instead continue to be part of the struggle to deepen democracy in the country.
The former vice President declared that he has nothing personal against President Tinubu and owes him no ill will whatsoever.
The statement further said; “Let me, however, make it very clear that this struggle is about principle and justice. He is not in this struggle because he hates Tinubu. He is in it to ensure that people who rigged elections are not allowed to get away with it.
“Injustice and rigging promote bitterness and division. No leader should be proud to lead angry and aggrieved citizens,” it said.
