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Tag: Abubakar Atiku

  • Presidential candidates to Atiku: avoid legal action

    Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance on Monday advised the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just- concluded Presidential election Abubakar Atiku to drop the legal option in expressing his grievances.

    It said the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari is his kinsman.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the National Campaign Committee Chairman of the forum, Shittu Kabir, urged him to disregard the advice of those asking him to challenge the outcome of the election in court but rather work and support Buhari.

    “This is consistent with the counsel of many well-meaning Nigerians including Chief Olisa Agbakoba and General Ibrahim Babangida.

    “We also believe that the former vice president has made a mark among Nigerians of means who have positively impacted their communities.

    “We think he has a lot more to contribute to developing humanity and promoting peace and progress in our nation, even without holding a political office.

    Read Also: Buhari’s group urges EU, AU to caution Atiku

    “At his age, he should now avoid any action and utterances capable of fanning the embers of discord, disagreement and violent conduct. Nigeria is greater than any personal or class interest.”

    He said after the presidential contest and the declaration of a winner, it is time Nigerians should begin the process of moving the country forward, saying it is the time to do away with primordial sentiments, especially all ethnic, religious and class sentiments.

    While emphasising that Nigeria is bigger than all, Kabir said the forum had taken keen interest in the pronouncements of politicians and some elder statesmen on the outcome of the election and its acceptability or otherwise.

    “It is our considered opinion and conviction that the interest of the nation will not be served by any party or individual resorting to litigation, either to upturn the verdict of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or challenging the conduct of the election.

    “The pattern of voting, the large turn-out and county-wide endorsement of President Buhari attests to the fact that Nigerians are pleased with him, his style of leadership and performance in the last three and a half years.

    “It is our collective view that he should be encouraged to improve on his performance during his second tenure,” he stressed.

  • Buhari’s victory signifies acceptability of his leadership — Akeredolu

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the 2019 presidential election signified the acceptability of his leadership by a majority of Nigerian citizens.

    Buhari won the 2019 Presidential election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 15,191,847 votes to beat Abubakar Atiku of the People’s Democratic Party (Party) with 11, 262, 978.

    The remarks were made in a statement in Akure on Wednesday, by Segun Ajiboye, Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor.

    According to the statement, Akeredolu joins millions of Nigerians to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election as president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a second four-year tenure.

    Read Also: Akeredolu to electorate: vote for APC candidates

    “The governor says the victory belongs to all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious beliefs.

    “He is optimistic that the next level promised Nigerian citizens by President Buhari will indeed take the country to unprecedented heights.

    “Gov. Akeredolu hails all stakeholders, including local and international observers, security agencies, social commentators and members of the media, who in one way or the other played a role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.

    “He particularly commends the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC), for conducting a free, fair and credible presidential election accepted by observers and the international community,” the statement said.

    NAN

  • Atiku won Owolabi Salis polling unit

    The Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Abubakar Atiku has won the Atunrase Estate, Phase 11, Gbagada polling unit of Alliance for Democracy Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, Owolabi Salis.
    The Electoral Official for the unit, Mrs Titi announced the results around 3:00am on Sunday.
    She said that out of the total cast, Atiku won with 119 votes trailed by his rival, the Presidential candidate of The All Progressive Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari who polled 104. Other results are ADP-3 YPP-5, and ACCORD-1.
    She also announced that the senatorial candidates of the PDP and APC scored 119 respectively while the candidate of PDP won the House of Representative with 128 and the APC polling 95. Other results are: APA-1, PCP-1 and voided votes-15.
    The announcement of the results was greeted with protest by members of APC who had stayed for hours to get their votes counted.
    Earlier, the Candidate of Alliance for Democracy, Lagos state, Chief Owolabi Salis expressed his satisfaction over the conduct of the election which was organised under a peaceful atmosphere.
    Although, he was concern over the delay of INEC officials who showed up around 2:00 pm.
    He noted that voting exercise across Lagos State was very commendable as votings were done under a conducive atmosphere.
    “INEC officials delay to my polling unit, made me ask, if there was an attempt to disenfranchise over 600 eligible voters and myself in this polling unit,” he said.
    “the comportment of the voters in this poling unit is commendable and their resolved to address the issue amicably shows that Nigeria are ready to elect their leaders for another four years”.

  • Hoodlums throw chairs at Lagos PDP rally

    Some hoodlums attempted to disrupt the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) rally holding at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos.

    A fight broke out among a group of boys not far from the main podium where party leaders are seated.

    The incident, which happened at about 1.50pm, saw the miscreants throwing punches and chairs at each other.

    It was not immediately clear what caused the fight.

    Those around the place fled, as policemen chased the hoodlums around the premises.

    Read Also: PDP alleges clampdown on members in Kaduna

    It happened when flags were being presented to candidates for National Assembly positions.

    The MC said: “I can see some people are here to torment trouble. Those who have come here to disturb this place will be treated as criminals.”

    Everyone was body-searched before being allowed into the TBS before the event commenced.

    However, some boys were seen smoking within the arena, while drink sellers were allowed to sell assorted alcohol.

    PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is expected to address the crowd at any moment.

  • PDP: Atiku is a consummate democrat

    The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the party’s Presidential Candidate, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, as a consummate democrat.

    The Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

    He was reacting to a statement credited to the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
    Tinubu was reported to have hauled verbal attack on Abubakar for allegedly criticising President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership style in his (Abubakar) address on the state-of-the-nation.

    He said, “We invite Nigerians to note that all the accusations of undemocratic actions alluded to by Tinubu against Abubakar did not come under Abubakar’s purview of decision or his sphere of control while in office as the Vice President of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Atiku reports Buhari to US, UK, EU, France, Germany

    “If anything, Abubakar was in charge of the economy during the period and every Nigerian can testify that, within that time, our economy thrived to be one of the fastest growing in the world.

    “And the purchasing power of citizens was much higher than what obtains today,” Ologbondiyan said.

    He said that it was unfortunate that Tinubu was attacking Abubakar at a time other respected Nigerian leaders were rallying support for Abubakar.

  • Atiku storms Kogi, promises economic revival

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer and former vice president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, made a stopover in Lokoja, Kogi State, ahead of next month’s election. JAMES AZANIA was on the trail.

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has part of his campaign trail stopped in the Kogi State capital, Lokoja, to win more Nigerian to his side ahead of the crucial 2019 general election.

    He said that he would redirect the country towards infrastructural development, create jobs and ensure a robust economy.

    He centered the plank of his appeal to the people of the state on the perceived impoverishment of Nigerians under the watch of the President Muhammad Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He promised to complete all abandoned projects in the state, if elected. The former vice president gave the pledge at the flag off of his presidential campaign in Kogi State.

    He said: “The legacy of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Geregu power plants 1 and 2… are PDP projects and we will make it a matter of priority to complete all projects that have been abandoned in the last three and half years. It is on record that Nigerians have not benefited from the government of President Buhari and his party, the All progressives Congress. Myself and my running mate, Peter Obi have the blueprint of how to halt the suffering inflicted on Nigerians by Buhari and his co travellers in APC.

    Atiku assured that the moribund Ajaokuta Steel which was stop in 1983 during military regime of President Muhammad Buhari will be revived if given the made to govern the country.

    He said the alarming unemployment, non-payment of salary and palpable infrastructural decay in Kogi State, and Nigeria at large will be a thing of the past.

    The PDP candidate said: “I have been an active player in the Nigeria economy. I have created multiple employment opportunities for hundreds of Nigerians in my private capacity. Revival of this bleeding economy and true federalism through restructuring would be my cardinal objectives.”

    Atiku, it would appear, is not taking Kogi, which is an APC governed state, for granted, and pundits remain of the opinion that he is angling to cash in on the perceived disaffection in the ruling party.

    He promised to complete all abandoned Federal Government projects in Kogi State, if elected president, come February.

    Pojects to be completed according to the presidential hopeful, include the multi billion naira Ajaokuta Steel Company and river ports in Lokoja and Idah.

    He recalled that both the Ajokuta Steel complex and the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja as well as many other projects in Kogi were legacies of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He said that he will address the alarming unemployment situation in Nigeria and convert the abundant natural resources in Kogi to execute projects that will be beneficial to all.

    Kogi, he said, will be the Number One beneficiary of his proposed restructuring of Nigeria, if elected.

    He uged Kogi people not to be deceived by the ruling All Progressive Congress, which he described as fake and “failed administration since it can’t pay salaries and pensions let alone execution of projects.”

    He also promised to correct the “mistakes of the PDP when it ruled the country for 16 years.”

    He condemned the unlawful detention of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), and called for his immediate release by the police.

    The Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Senate President, Bukola Saraki called on the people to ensure victory for his principal, in order to put an end to the myriad of problems bedeviling the state through anti people programmes of the ruling APC.

    Saraki urged the people of Kogi to end “APC’s autocratic” system of government by voting massively for PDP candidates in this year’s election.

    He added: “The last three years of APC have been hell for the people of Kogi and the entire country as a whole. A president who does not know what is going on around him is not my president, my president knows what he is doing, my president reads, my president knows how to create job and he has been doing so for years and will create jobs for our teaming youths.”

    Saraki said Kogi and Kwara, where he was once governor, shared everything in common, and must work together for the common goal of ensuring victory for Atiku. The Director-General called on the well-meaning people of Kogi to speak with one voice to ensure the release of Melaye. He called for the people of Kogi to vote massively for a president who knows what he is doing and well-schooled in the art of governance.

    He said: “My own president knows what’s happening around him, my own president reads, my own president is healthy, my own president knows how to create jobs and has been doing that for years, so let’s give him chance to prove his worth to us.”

    The PDP called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye. The lawmaker is reportedly currently being held at the police clinic in Abuja, after the siege on his Abuja residence, over charges bothering on alleged shooting of a police officer detailed to arrest him at his Ayeitoro-Gbede country home last year.

    Amidst shouts of “holy ghost fire,” speakers called on the police to release the senator and allow him continue his work.

     

  • Hoodlums attack Atiku campaign office

    Suspected hoodlums on Wednesday invaded the campaign office of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    Sources said they scaled the fence of the office located beside the Federal College of Agriculture (FECA) on Ijapo road in Akure and allegedly vandalised the billboards of PDP candidates.

    The Personal Assistant to the State Coordinator of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Olumide Ogunkua confirmed the attack in Akure, the state capital.

    He noted the hoodlums after entering to the compound of the campaign office began to chant the APC slogan of “Next Level” and destroying the posters bearing Atiku /Obi for 2019 president.

    According to him, the security guard in the compound was assaulted by the hoodlums for challenging their mission in the PDP campaign office.

    Ogunkua said: “We got a call from one of our sympathisers that the new billboards, banners and posters in front of our campaign office have been vandalized.

    “Upon receiving the call, we arrived at the office and we saw that the all the banners and posters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had been removed while some were defaced.

    Read Also: Police teargas and disperses PDP crowd in Jigawa

    “Upon entering the premises, we discovered that the security guard was tied up and his two phones were taken away.

    “When we inquired from him what really happened, he told us that he heard people destroying the banners and he shouted but the hoodlums jumped over the fence and held him hostage before they continued to perpetrate their dastardly act.

    “According to the security guard, the hoodlums were shouting the next level when they were destroying the bill boards and banners.

    “This is unacceptable, we call on the appropriate authorities to put a stop to these unwarranted attacks because if not it will put a threat to the peaceful conduct of the general election come February 2019.”

    He said the presidential campaign council of Ondo State has taken it up while the Inspector General of Police and the Director of SSS would be formally informed.

    The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Alex Kalejaiye condemned the attacked but denied all the allegations.

    Kalejaiye said APC government does not discriminate irrespective of political affiliation.

    He said: “We are so confident of our victory come February 2019, so we won’t have any reason whatsoever to attack any party or their facilities.

    “The state government under the APC controls signage agency that moderates activities of setting of billboards which is the signage agency and it collects revenue.

    “So, why do you think we would now sponsor anyone or group to destroy what brings in revenue in the state government’s purse?

    “We would never encourage such. If anybody is pointing accusing finger at the APC, the person is doing it out of either frustration or ignorance.”

    Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Femi Joseph,a Superintendent of Police, when contacted said the incident occurred at the Ijapo divsion of the command but he was yet to be briefed at the state command

  • 2019: Elect visionary leaders, Atiku advises Nigerians

    The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has advised Nigerians to elect visionary leaders in 2019.

    Abubakar in his new year message issued on Monday in Abuja said that the citizens could collectively chat a new course for the country in 2019.

    “2019 is as yet a blank page. As a nation, we must not settle for whatever it brings.

    “We already have the vision, the vision of a nation that is a beacon of hope for the black race and the world at large,” he said.

    The former Vice President also advised Nigerians not to lose heart and hope saying Nigeria is no stranger to overcoming difficulties.

    Read Also: 2019: Umahi cautions against do or die politics

    He urged the citizens to remember how Nigeria became the first nation in the world to defeat and overcome the wild Ebola virus, when even first world nations were struggling with the scourge.

    Abubakar said that the resilience was domiciled in the Nigerians national psyche and “together we shall win forever’’.

    “I wish you all a Happy New Year and may 2019 be the year of Nigeria,’’ he said.

  • We won’t lose sleep over Atiku’s US visa row-PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won’t lose sleep over the unresolved bid by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to obtain the United States visa.

    Many prominent chieftains of the PDP, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, dismissed the visa row as a non- issue, saying the party has left the matter for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to be fixated with.

    One of the party chieftains, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the matter has been put in abeyance.

    The source said: “As far as some of us are concerned, the hoopla over US visa for Atiku has been taken off the discussion table because we don’t want it to become a source of distraction to the party.

    “In the first place, we are working to elect a suitable President for Nigeria and not a President for the United States so those who want to spend their time debating Atiku’s visa application can continue to entertain themselves.

    “What I can tell you is that the PDP as a party has moved ahead because we don’t believe that winning the 2019 presidential election would have nothing to do with getting a US visa or not”.

    Another party chieftain who did not want to be quoted said the issue of Atiku’s US visa has become a lazy talk, adding the party was busy with its campaign strategies and had little time for such distraction.

    He said: “For how long are we going to dwell on a matter that is personal to Atiku as if traveling to America will win the election for our party and candidate?

    “As far as some of us are concerned, securing a visa to America won’t win the election for Atiku so we remain unfazed by the matter”.

    National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said Atiku remained a global citizen, wondering how many US Presidents are given condition to visit Nigeria as part of requirements for their office.

    Stressing traveling to the US isn’t one of the conditions for anyone to become President, he recalled the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua never travelled to the United States before he became President in 2007.

  • Okupe tips Saraki, Tambuwal as best aspirants for PDP

    A former Presidential spokesperson and chieftain of the Accord Party, Dr Doyin Okupe has tipped Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki as the only outstanding aspirant who the odd favours to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, among all the Presidential aspirants in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) announced his intention to seek a re-election few months ago and he is most likely to be the party’s sole candidate as the incumbent.

    Speaking as a guest on a morning show which had discussions on the 2019 Presidential election, on Arise TV, Okupe projected that the 2019 presidential election will be between President Muhammadu Buhari on one side against Dr Bukola Saraki, former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, or Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state. The trio recently dumped the APC for the PDP.

    According to the former Presidential spokesperson, “there are two platforms on which any candidate can win a Presidential election in Nigeria; the first is by winning the Northwest and Northeast with Southern majority, the second platform is by clearing votes in the Southeast, Southwest, Southsouth and the Middlebelt. It doesn’t matter what votes come from the North, with this second strategy, a candidate will win the Presidential election convincingly.”

    He said those are the tested strategies winning presidential election in Nigeria.

    Analysing the chances of the three Presidential hopefuls, Okupe said “I see Tambuwal as a young politician from the Northwest and people have been clamouring for the return of power to the Northwest, that if you really want to defeat Buhari in an election, you need somebody from the Northwest who can divide the vote. Though he has the experience, exposure and acceptability that Nigerians can follow, but I don’t see Tambuwal in that capacity to divide the northern votes.”

    On former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Dr Okupe said “of all the aspirants, Atiku is perhaps the most ready because he’s been contesting for long. But he is not as acceptable in the North as you would have expected a Northern candidate should be. I think Buhari is faring better even in the Northeast than Atiku. That is not enough like I said earlier, if he can gather support from the South, he is good to go.  He has been dutiful in preparing for this and he has the war chest to go for it.”

    Read Also: Okupe’s exit a non-issue – Ogun PDP

    Speaking on Senate President Bukola Saraki’s chances, Okupe said “among all the three, my best is Bukola Saraki. He has a good background of responsibility, pedigree, he is well educated, extremely exposed, knowledgeable and intrinsically intelligent. He has done excellently well since becoming Chairman of National Assembly and the present NASS under him has performed better than any we’ve ever had.

    “His emergence will give us a President that could stand with President Emmanuel Macron of France and you will not be scared of what he is going to say. Someone who can stand to talk at the United Nations (UN) and you can be confident and proud as a Nigerian.”

    On the geographical strategy, Okupe said “Buhari already holds the Northeast and Northwest, and if you want to battle with him you don’t go to his stronghold and start battling with him, it doesn’t make any sense, because as it stands today, no Nigerian politician can severely damage Buhari’s electoral reservoir in the North. The wise thing to do is to go to where he is weak like the Middlebelt.

    “If Saraki emerges on the platform of the Middlebelt, all he needs to do to weaken Buhari’s northern stronghold is to gather support from Southeast, Southsouth and Southwest, since it is very clear that Buhari will lose all the Middlebelt states including Kaduna,” he added.

    “That a candidate cannot break Buhari’s stronghold of the North does not mean the candidate cannot win the presidential election, it’s a fallacy.”

    The Accord Party chieftain further explained that “Former President Goodluck Jonathan won in 2011 with Southern majority and the Middlebelt. Despite the fact that the North voted Buhari, Jonathan still won with Southern majority and the Middlebelt votes.

    “In 2015, Buhari didn’t get any substantial votes in the Southeast and Southsouth, but he won based on the votes from the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and some parts of the Middlebelt.”