Atiku files new evidence at Supreme Court, insists fight is to enthrone justice, fairness
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has denied betraying President Bola Tinubu for exposing his certificate forgery, a betrayal charge levelled by Tinubu spin doctors to distract from the real issues at hand.
Atiku said, rather, Tinubu abandoned him and the then Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) to support Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP in the 2007 presidential election.
Sources close to him confirmed he has filed at the Supreme Court the new cache of evidence from Chicago State University (CSU) buttressing his argument for Tinubu’s disqualification.
Atiku recounted how he saved Tinubu by not allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to take over Lagos in the 2007 general election.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed Atiku’s claims at the press conference which he said lacked purpose.
It was “the pitiful regurgitation of lies, mindless distortions and deliberate falsehood on Atiku’s infantile obsession with the academic record of the President,’’ Morka said.
Atiku, however, expressed concern Nigeria’s reputation at home and abroad is at stake and “we must uphold Nigeria’s election ground rule (the Constitution).”
In answers to questions from journalists, Atiku denied reports his action is a betrayal of Tinubu, stressing instead, Tinubu is indebted to him for preventing former President Olusegun Obasanjo from dethroning him as Lagos Governor in 2007.
His words: “In 2007, we came together to form ACN and in Lagos at the convention, I emerged and got the ticket.
“And after the convention, a few of our friends who are here met me and told me Bola wanted to be my running mate. So, I asked for their opinion on Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“All of them said they objected [because it would be a Muslim-Muslim ticket]. So, I asked them why didn’t they tell him? So, that was the end of our political relationship; he broke away as he went ahead and supported Yar’adua. So where is the grounds for him to say I betrayed him?
“Those of you who are old enough will remember that in 2003 the PDP took over all the states in the South West, with the exception of Lagos. I stood before Obasanjo and said no, you can’t take Lagos. And he left it.
“So, who is indebted to the other: Is it me or Tinubu? Tinubu is indebted to me.’’
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Atiku not afraid of Tinubu going after his business interests
Atiku disclosed how former President Muhammadu Buhari revoked his oil bloc licence and said he is not scared Tinubu may also go after his business interests, per The PUNCH.
“It [licence for oil blocs] has already been taken away from me since the Buhari administration. They took it and distributed it among themselves.”
Pays tribute to Gani Fawehinmi
Atiku vowed to fight until the Supreme Court rules on the evidence of Tinubu’s disqualification.
“We undertook this journey at great cost and for important reasons. The ground rules for legitimate governance in our country need to be upheld, and the reputation of our country is at stake. That affects everyone, Nigerians everywhere.
“I am a democrat by conviction and a citizen of a country that I love. The issues at stake in this case require us once more to re-dedicate ourselves to both the country and our Constitution.
“I wish to pay tribute to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, who inspired us on this path of discovery. Now, he can truly rest in peace in the assurance that what he started about 23 years ago has come to fruition.
“Gani’s vindication today gives credence to the saying that no matter how fast a lie runs, the truth will someday overtake it. This quest is not for or about Atiku Abubakar. It is a quest for the enthronement of truth, morality, and accountability in our public affairs.’’
Atiku has reportedly filed at the Supreme Court fresh evidence obtained from CSU to strengthen his appeal.
“Yes, we have submitted fresh evidence to the Supreme Court before the deadline,” a source close to him told The PUNCH.
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