The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that the threats against its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is a sign that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, are becoming jittery that their defence is collapsing at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
The PDP stated this in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP was reacting to the statement by the APC ‘warning’ Atiku Abubakar, against making comments on the state of the nation and that his patriotic reactions to pressing national issues amount to felony.
The PDP stated emphatically that Atiku’s comments on national issues have been patriotic and within his constitutional right of freedom of speech, not only as a citizen, but also a former Vice President, as well as a leader and Presidential candidate of the PDP.
“As a responsible political party, we boldly state that none of the statements made by our presidential candidate falls within the realm of felony in anyway whatsoever.
“However, intelligence available to the PDP largely posits that the threats against Atiku Abubakar 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 explained that the renewed allegations against Atiku Abubakar came after a witness told the court, as has been publicly reported, that the Army never required any enlisted officer to submit his WAEC certificate, in total contradiction to claims that Mr. President’s certificates were in the custody of the Army.
The PDP called on the APC to rather get ready for justice instead of seeking ways to frame Atiku Abubakar on flimsy and unconstitutional grounds.
The party reminded that while it 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 the laws of the nation.
“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.”
The PDP therefore described as quite disturbing the fact 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.
It stated that if President Buhari found Nigerian youths as being lazy and not worthy of active role in governance in the country and other nations are finding accommodation for our youths, Atiku Abubakar cannot but commend such world leaders, no matter whose ox is gored.
“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, insecurity festers and economy nosedive to the extent that Ghana has overtaken our nation as the number one recipient for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in West Africa.”
The PDP has therefore advised that instead of attacking Atiku Abubakar for standing for our 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.
