- Cautions against any plot to frame the former Vice President
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) on Wednesday said it has noted the statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘warning’ the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against making comments on the state of the nation and that his patriotic reactions to pressing national issues amount to a felony.
The opposition party said contrary to APC’s allegations, “Atiku Abubakar’s comments on national issues have been patriotic and within his constitutional right of freedom of speech, not only as a citizen of this Federal Republic, but also a former Vice President, as well as a leader and Presidential candidate of the PDP.”
A statement by the national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, which was made available to TheNiche said: “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 Petitions Tribunal,
for which they have become desperate to use underhand methods to stop
Atiku Abubakar.
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note 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.
“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.
“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 our youths.
“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.
“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.”
