The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Atiku Abubakar

  • Peace Accord: PDP is afraid of defeat

    The Forward with Buhari, an Independent Presidential Campaign Organisation for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is afraid of its imminent defeat in the February 16, Presidential election, hence its threat to pull out of the peace accord, entered into by the  various political parties, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
    The organisation in a statement made available to media by its National Secretary and Human Rights Lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo said PDP’s threat to pull out of the peace accord it signed with the National Peace Committee alongside other registered political parties, clearly shows that the handwriting is now so clear to the PDP, and the only option left for the party, in its desperation to return to power in the country, is to unleash violence, hence, its threat to boycott the peace accord.
    Recall that the PDP had yesterday, through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, threatened to pull out of the peace accord over comments made by Kaduna Governor Nasir el’Rufai that foreigners who interfere in the forthcoming elections would leave the country in body bags.
    Ajulo said the nature of the PDP’s response clearly shows that neither the party nor its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is committed to a peaceful election in the country, but only signed the accord under pretence and false patriotism. This statement is after they have realized that 30 states including their candidate’s state are a no go area and so they want to pull out of the peace accord which will introduce violence. The Forward With Buhari Group urges PDP to allow peace to reign and not fuel crisis. “A violence free election is what we need and which we will continue to work towards,” Ajulo said.

    Read Also:PDP planning to malign Abdulrazak, says forum

    He said further that irrespective of the disposition of the PDP towards fostering crisis come February 16, Nigerians are ready and they shall fully participate in the presidential and National Assembly elections, which will surely be held peacefully and creditably to the disappointment of the PDP.
    He further urged the teeming supporters of President Buhari not to relent in these last few days to reach out and be ready to protect their votes.
    “PDP has realised that the endorsement by some groups with the corresponding response that negates it by Nigerians shows that they can’t win as most of the said organisations are not masses based, but rather operate in isolation of the group they lay claim to represent. This informs their being jittery,” Ajulo maintained.

  • Atiku accuses Buhari, APC of using state resources, apparatuses for campaign

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state resources as apparatuses for electioneering campaign.

    Describing the action as a violation of the nation’s electoral laws, Atiku said Buhari and the APC have been acting contrary to claims by the President that he would not use state resources for election.

    In a statement Thursday by his media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the PDP presidential candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction President Buhari and the APC for violating the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The statement said, “Recall that the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had in December of last year warned incumbent office holders against using state resources or apparatuses for their campaigns, or deploying same against their opponents.

    “Prof. Yakubu, who issued the warning at a lecture titled “Political corruption and other emerging issues for the 2019 elections” in Abuja, noted that the commission has the power to monitor campaign financing and sources of funds according to the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “However, in negation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the Buhari administration and the APC has taken to the illegal deployment of state resources to its advantage for the election.

    Read Also: Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    “We wish to remind President Buhari and the APC that the use of state videos released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is illegal under the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “The media is awash with advertisements with the hashtag #PMBDIDIT and signed by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and referencing so-called achievements of the APC administration in the states of Abia, Kwara, Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta and Kano, among others”.

    These, Atiku said, were without doubt, 2019 presidential campaign materials produced by the Ministry of Information and Culture using state resources and apparatuses to benefit President Buhari.

    “This appalling conduct, which is clearly in violation of Section 100 of the Electoral Act, is even more shocking when it is recalled that the state resources being used to the illegal advantage of President Buhari are being drawn from agencies which for over three years, prior to this election, failed to perform their duties to the benefit of Nigerian citizens. The Ministry of Information and Culture must stop this illegality immediately.

    “We demand that INEC issues an immediate cease and desist order to both the Ministry of Information and Culture and to the broadcast channels running it.

    “We also insist that INEC register the media spend behind it as part of the APC’s total N1 billion campaign spend limit.

    “Fortunately, INEC is alert to this danger and itself warned the ruling party to refrain from such conduct. Now that the party has clearly flouted the law in negation of the electoral umpire’s warning, we urge that INEC sanctions them accordingly”.

  • Atiku restates commitment to total defeat of Boko Haram

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has restated his commitment to the total defeat of the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and other parts of the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    Atiku, in a statement Thursday by his media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe said if elected, every terrorist caught will be tried in accordance with the provisions of the law.

    The statement declared Atiku’s zero tolerance for terrorists, stressing that he has detailed his plan to equip the military to deal decisively with threats posed by Boko Haram insurgents to national security once and for all.

    Atiku was reacting to a video clip allegedly being surreptitiously circulated by the Buhari Media Centre, depicting alleged plans by Atiku to cede parts of insurgency ravaged Borno State to Boko Haram in a peace deal.

    The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to a video being surreptitiously circulated by the Buhari Media Centre, under a satanic pseudonym, ‘Make Nigeria Worse Again’, in which they falsely accuse the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, of planning to cede parts of Borno State to Boko Haram in a peace deal.

    Read Also: Tinubu blasts PDP, Atiku

    “This is completely false and only shows the level of dirty politics and fake news the Muhammadu Buhari administration is prepared to engage in in its desperation to cling to power despite its widespread unpopularity.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the only plans that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has for Boko Haram is the total defeat of the terrorist sect once and for all.

    “Atiku Abubakar is not one for ‘technical’ defeats. He has said publicly and privately that if he is elected, both Boko Haram and ISWAP would be wiped off the face of the planet.

    “Indeed, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Buhari administration policy of releasing so called ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members and tied the resurgence of terrorism in the nation to that ill-advised program.

    “It is worth noting however that this fake news video began circulating soon after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned the Buhari Media Center on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

    “It is very doubtful that this is a coincidence and we call on the public to be wary of such videos and other online propaganda from the Buhari Media Centre to discredit the PDP presidential candidate.

     

  • Group hails Buratai, Army over election security, sues for continuous loyalty amongst troops

    The Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance has hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the Nigerian  Army over responsiveness to protecting Nigeria’s democracy and the sovereignty of the country.
    The group, therefore, called for continuous loyalty amongst troops to constituted authority before, during and after the elections.
    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Emmanuel Itodo, the Executive Director of the group, said since the directive for the military to ruthlessly deal with ballot snatchers it observed that the Nigerian Army has risen to the occasion, particularly in the way it has intensified operations to counter incidents that could have undermined the elections.
    According to him, “Such calls condemning President Buhari’s directive came from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who even went to the absurd extent of asking the Army to disregard the directive was totally unacceptable to close watchers of events around the county.
    This is sad as it betrays the desperation of Atiku who now wants the country to be set ablaze since it has become clear that he is likely to come a distant third in the election.
    “We wonder how he would react to the military disregarding his orders if he were the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
    Benue state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, also asked the Army to disregard the President even though the same Army continues to save his state from the self-inflicted violence that has gripped the state.
    “The people he armed under the guise of being herdsmen had unleashed attacks on the state and it took the intervention of the Army to curtail them. One can only wonder what the outcome would have been if the Army had gone with his request not to shoot at anyone, even those that are carrying weapons just as would be ballot box snatchers will do.
    The confidence that the Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance has in the Army and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has increased with the way he has handled the situation in which members of the opposition are asking him to politicize the military by siding with them and disregarding the directive from the C-in-C.
    “Our confidence is informed by the professionalism and apolitical nature of the current Nigerian Army under Lt. General Buratai.
    “We are pleased that he has made it amply clear that the Nigerian Army is not on sale to the highest bidder. The PDP and Atiku Abubakar should at this stage get the message clearly that the Army is not the same as some of the compromised electoral officers that trampled on patriotism upon being paid in dollars.
    “The Army is also not the same as foreign agents masquerading as foreign observers that shamelessly became the spokespersons for a corrupt opposition. Both classes of compromised persons are not interested in protecting the sovereignty and integrity of Nigeria, which the Army has sworn to protect and is doing a good job of.
    “General Buratai must however be wary as the PDP has continued to put officers under pressure of monetary and career inducement. He should leverage on intelligence reports to conduct hourly risk assessment until the elections are over. This is because the PDP has promised some officers in the Army dollar payment in six and seven digits once they agree to allow ballot snatching under their watch in contravention of President Buhari’s order. The contact persons that made these offers on behalf of Atiku has promised at least six different officers the position of COAS if they allow ballot box snatching and rigging so that Atiku can win.

    Read Also:Breaking: 12 presidential candidates back Buhari

    “This is why general Buratai’s charge to army personnel to be apolitical is timely but we urge him to back this up with proactive measures to identify anyone that contravenes his directives by hobnobbing with the PDP or its agents. The Army must also suspend its officers and personnel from having any interface with foreigners and foreign organizations as these so called foreign observers are being used to convey the PDP’s messages and offers to officers. They use avenues like break times during briefings and innocuous meetings to attempt recruiting members of the Armed Forces to take sides with the opposition.
    “Even as we urge General Buratai to exercise caution, we warm politicians, especially the opposition PDP to desist from dragging themselves into the administration of Nigerian Army and must cease their ongoing attempt to compromise the institution because there is a thin line between what they are attempting and treason. There is no provision in the Constitution that empowers the opposition to  dish out instruction to the Army neither does the opposition form part of the chain of command between the C-in- C, the Service Chiefs and the troops. The fact that the PDP, its presidential candidate and chieftains are attempting to compromise the Army therefore lends credence to earlier intelligence report that foreign agents have perfected a plan for the PDP to reject the outcome of the elections, declare a parallel government and get the backing of its foreign partners.
    “In view of the fact that the Army is a key institution in preventing ballot box snatching and averting a descent into chaos for the country, it will come under sustained attack aimed at intimidating its ranks and leadership to capitulate and become politicized. Nigerians must consequently be prepared to resist the attempt to destroy key institutions of the country by supporting the Army in its determination to protect the sovereignty of the country and to remain subordinated to constituted authority without any iota of disloyalty.
    The commendable arrests of troublemakers commissioned by dubious politicians to cause confusion must be sustained. The Army should not be deterred by the lies being told by those claiming that it is clamping down on the opposition. What is required of it is to maintain its apolitical stance by ensuring that anyone that foments trouble is made accountable for their actions.”

  • Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has attributed the spate of insecurity in the country to failure of government to provide jobs for the youth population.

    Speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Minna, Niger State on Wednesday, Atiku said if voted into power, the PDP government will provide the needed jobs that would tame the menace of insecurity.

    Atiku said, “So, this is a promise and a commitment I am making on behalf of PDP if you vote for PDP. I want to commit to you that if you vote for PDP, the insecurity which they have not been able to control, we shall control it.

    “They have been unable to control insecurity because they have been unable to provide jobs and businesses for the people. So by the time we provide jobs and businesses for our young men and women, you will hear less crime and less insecurity.

    “So, I want to promise you on behalf of our great party to sack the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and let us send them packing. Like I used to say, Buhari must go. APC must go”.

    The PDP presidential candidate blamed the ruling APC for the social and economic ills plaguing the country, stressing that the ruling party has reneged on all its campaign promises to the Nigerian people.

    “In 2015, they came to tell us that PDP did not do anything. We should change. And we changed. And they promised to fight corruption, to improve our economy and also to secure our country. Have they achieved anyone of these three?

    “When they came in, there was insecurity only in the North East. Today, there is insecurity in North West and North Central. And we have lost more lives at any other time in the history of this country in peaceful times. They have failed as far as security is concerned.

    “When it comes to the issue of economy, we have lost more jobs; over 10 million jobs, to the extent that Nigeria has been declared the headquarters of poverty in the world. This is a record.

    “Have they fulfilled that promise? Now I want to promise you that if you vote PDP, we will restore the jobs that had been lost. You either get a job or get a business to do”, Atiku added.

    Read Also: Tinubu blasts PDP, Atiku

    Also speaking at the rally, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukolan Saraki, restated the resolve of the PDP to run issue based campaign.

    Saraki, who is the Director General of the PDP presidential campaign, maintained that the 2019 elections would be a referendum on the APC administration, which he described as a total failure.

    Saraki said, “A government that has been with us for three and half years and it promised us three things and we are going to decide as Nigerians. If they have performed, they can continue, if they have not performed, they must pack and go home.

    “They came on security, there was problem in the North East and they said they can provide security solution. Today isn’t the security situation worse?

    “There is no security in North Central, North West. There is security problem everywhere. Before, they said they will provide three million jobs for the youth. Today, more than 10 million youths have lost their jobs, have they perform? No.

    “They came they said they would bring food to our people, today Nigeria is the capital of hunger in the entire world, have they performed?

    “They said they will fight corruption, today there is corruption in the country, no be so? They have failed on these things and that is why they must leave and let us bring a man that has experience; that knows how to create jobs, that knows how to bring food to all of us”.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who was also at the rally, berated President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    According to him, the President and his party have been creating “mistaken impression” of being popular with Nigerians, whereas the hand writing on the wall indicates that the people have rejected them.

    Describing the APC as a drowning party, the chairman said the Buhari administration has been struggling to give artificial relevance to its image by trying to lure people and create some photoshop to give impression of a non-existent relevance and popularity.

    Secondus said instead of licking the wound of its shattered image, arising from an obvious squandered goodwill, the APC has embarked on rumour peddling and buying off some PDP leaders.

    The PDP chair said that its laughable that even with the glaring incompetence of the APC administration in the last 42 months, which he said, has left the country in a comatose state.

    “Nigerians have been watching regrettably, a President and his party, that cannot embark on campaign because he has nothing to showcase.

    “Having failed to find a performing APC governor to flaunt, the party and the President allow themselves some name dropping and rumour peddling on bogus achievements”, Secondus said.

    Other party chieftains at the rally included the immediate past governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; his counterpart from Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Taraki; PDP governorship candidate in Niger State, Umar Mohammed Nasko; Senate Minority Whip, Phillip Aduda and many others.

  • Violation of accord: Presidency drags PDP to Peace Committee

    The Presidency on Tuesday called on the National Peace Committee to act on what it described as a violation of the peace accord signed by presidential candidates in December.by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also accused the PDP presidential campaign organisation of bad faith, character assassination and inflammatory utterances.

    According to him, the open and unsubstantiated allegations against the President’s family by the Atiku Abubakar media campaign contravenes the spirit of the peace accord that was signed at the instance of former Head of State,  Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bishop Mathew Kukah and other eminent public figures who constitute the committee.

    He said “Dragging the President’s family into the campaign and accusing them of wrongdoing without producing unassailable evidence, amounts to an act of bad faith and malice.

    “Instead of concentrating their efforts on persuading Nigerians on why they should be trusted to rule again after 16 years of failure, the PDP presidential campaign organisation is seeking to divert public attention from the large scale corruption and havoc it wreaked on the country during its 16 years of misrule.” he said

    Read Also: PDP plots to cause friction in Southwest

    He noted that more than one week after accusing President Buhari’s family of corruption and wrong doing, the PDP presidential campaign still cannot provide proof of the allegations against them, despite being encouraged by the Presidency and the public to do so.

    “Instead, they are ridiculously expecting the accused to prove their own allegations instead of it being the other way round,” the presidential spokesman said.

    Accusing the PDP presidential campaign of being indolent and poor in research , Shehu noted that it was irresponsible to go public with allegations that they could not prove, describing that as something other than politics.

    “It is sheer desperation and a clear sign of disarray in the PDP campaign,” he said.

  • PDP ‘ll ensure uninterrupted education calendar – Jennifer Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given assurance that if elected back to power in 2019, it will ensure an uninterrupted education calendar in the sector.

    Mrs Jennifer Atiku, wife of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar  Atiku, gave the assurance in her remarks at the flag-off of the Edo Central Senatorial campaigns by the party on Sunday in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Atiku said that a PDP government would ensure that students who “are presently out of school due to the lingering ASUU strike get back to their classrooms”.

    She also said that a PDP government would create an environment for business to thrive with a view to ensuring that the citizens were lifted above poverty.

    She said there was an urgent need to get every sector of the country working again to enable citizens enjoy better life.

    Addressing the gathering, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party had enjoyed unbroken support from Esan people since 1999.

    Orbih, who said the party was on a mission to rescue the country, added every member of the party would go back to their various LGAs, wards and units in Esan land to preach the gospel of rescuing Nigeria.

    He urged the people to come out en masse to vote PDP and ensure that their votes counted and defended.

    He further said that the election wasn’t about PDP but about securing a better future for Nigerians and the nation’s hard earned democracy.

    He also criticised the appointment of Amina Zakari, who is alleged to be a very close relative of President Buhari, as head of INEC’s collation centre.

    Zahara has, however, since denied the allegation, saying she was not related to Buhari.

    The chairman said INEC, like Caesar’s wife, must not only be above board, but must also be seen to be above board.

    “INEC must do the needful by listening to the cries of Nigerians to ensure the forthcoming elections are not only free and fair but transparent and credible,” he said.

    Meanwhike, the Edo Central Senatorial candidate of the party, Sen. Clifford Ordia, said “we promise to do things differently but today with the opportunity given to us in 2015 we have been able to effectively serve our people”.

    “We have surpassed their expectations and we are well positioned to do more when reelected to the National Assembly,” he said.

    Similarly, the PDP candidate in the Edo 2016 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, admonished the people to collectively halt any plan to rig the forth coming general elections.

    He said that the party’s presidential candidate would perform and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians when elected as president.

  • Why we dumped Atiku, PDP – Bello

    A couple of weeks back, the Coalition of aggrieved Support Groups numbering over 145, formally withdrew their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and pledged their support and loyalty to president Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for the 2019 presidential election. The leader of the coalition, Bello Osaretin, recently spoke with Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, on why they took that decision. Excerpts.

    Your group during the week dumped the PDP and Atiku to work for Buhari. What informed such decision?

    It is quite obvious that the leaders and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not learn their lessons. It is now very clear that the party is not serious about returning to power in 2019. How do you expect a party that betrayed itself in 2015 to still win election come 2019 with the same set of characters that were at the saddle of command when APC defeated the party four years ago.

    That was when the PDP was even a ruling party. They say they have changed and are now true democrats, but the issues of imposition and impunity have not been addressed. Coupled with the symptoms of  the use and dump syndrome that has vastly infested the party. Sadly too, the party lacks a reward management system for true members to be fully integrated into party activities.

    It is for these reasons and many more that we decided to be separated from the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who we have been supporting and worked tirelessly for since he declared his interest in the 2019 presidential race. As I am speaking to you, we are no longer in support of both the PDP and Atiku. We have decided to move away from them both.

    Our decision to quit the Atiku project was occasioned by the total neglect and disregards for the sanctity of support groups existence, acknowledgment and recognition of groups contributions coupled with nepotic deployment in favour of some selected support groups with ethnic affinity, administrative recklessness in management of support groups goodwill, rebarbative use of derogatory terms such as mere volunteers and nuisance to ascribed support groups instrumental for Atiku to defeat eleven co-contestants in PDP Presidential Convention and the use of coercive force, such as thugs and political touts to unleash mayhem on support groups that we are disgruntled to the injustice prevalent in Atiku’s camp.

    But some analysts have described your actions as mere political stunt. What do you have to say to this?

    Whoever think our actions are mere political stunts must be a new entrance or a political neophyte in the game of politics. How would any rational politician think it is a stunt. Believe me, there was a good ground for us to be disgruntled. People need to understand how we feel that after our support had led to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate, his team abandoned us.

    Following his victory at the presidential primary election in Port-Harcourt, we were referred to as mere volunteers. We were neglected and left abandoned. No letter of appreciation. No acknowledgment. No recognition whatsoever.

    After the victory in Port-Harcourt, the celebration was moved to Dubai, where people who never laboured for Atiku’s victory were the first to sit at the tea party, while the support groups that labored through thick and thin were neglected, abandoned, used and dumped, confirming the usual parlance of “monkey dye work baboon dey chop” which has been the usual style of PDP as a political party.

    You claimed to be aggrieved Atiku supporters. First, what are the proves that your group actually worked for Atiku?

    If we didn’t work for Atiku Abubakar there wouldn’t have been the need for this agitations. We worked serious for him by using our resources to mobilize and engage critical stakeholders, especially the delegates, because it was a structured delegates campaign. Vehicles, banners, billboard, sourvires were branded to create serious public awareness for him, amongst other things.

    And we are known to him and his handlers. That is why nobody has come out to deny us. They are now doing what they ought t have done long before we decided to cut ties with them. Our decision to quit Atiku’s presidential project is informed and inspired by the outcome of wide consultations and engagements embark upon over the past few months. We didn’t just leave, we consulted widely.

    Since when have you been supporting Atiku and what sort of relationship did you have with him and his political camp?

    We have been supporting Atiku since 2011.  The relationship has been a political one. But we became aggrieved because nobody seems to give us recognition for the good job done by support groups. It was very very appalling. We became Aggrieved because we were being used and dumped. We made efforts tot get issues resolved. We wrote several letters but all to no avail.

     Do you think President Buhari can win the 2019 election?

    Why not? The man has done extremely well He has brought integrity into the governance system of Nigeria. There is no match to Buhari in 2019. It is integrity versus corruption. Nigerians are still remembering the past and comparing it with the current situation. Buhari has won the next election for the APC across the country with his performance.

    Like I told you, we didnt just leave PDP, we consulted widely and I can now tell you Nigerians prefer Buhari and the APC to Atiku and the PDP. That was why we unanimously agreed to denounce our membership of Atiku Presidential Campaign Office and as well withdraws total supports for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition nationwide with immediate effect and direct all affiliate bodies to do same forthwith.

    On the flip-side, we the members of aggrieved Atiku Support Groups Coalition, warehousing more than 145 aggrieved support groups across Nigeria, are now promising to mobilise our members to give President Buhari six million votes across the country to ensure that he is not stopped by the PDP in 2019. We are of the opinion that he should be allowed to continue the good works he is doing.

    Integrity question will be at stake here. We need to put that in context. I still believe Buhari will come on top at end of the day. Also the choices of the running mates have set a voting pattern in motion. The west and the east will look at the persons running as vice president and decide which party should be given the chance. The south will determine the next election. Take my words for it, Buhari will win in 2019.

    Are you now members of the APC?

    We have not officially declared for APC, but we have pledged allegiance to Mr. President through Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But let me say this categorically; it is a sin to remain in PDP. Nigerians have spoken, they will never return to Egypt, so PDP will never return to power in Nigeria.

  • ‘Nigeria can’t be entrusted to Atiku’

    A foremost ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and National Coordinator of Buhari Awareness and Voters’ Guard, Engr. Kailani Muhammad has said that, Nigeria cannot be entrusted in the hands of former Vice President and PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    He said, Atiku unlike President Muhammadu Buhari, has a lot of corruption allegations and indictments hanging on his neck.

    Muhammad, a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), who addressed newsmen at his Kaduna office, stated categorically that, Atiku cannot be trusted with the economy of Nigeria.

    While arguing that, there is no alternative to APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential race, Muhammad said that, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has several cases of financial misconduct allegations levelled against him while he was the vice president between 1999 and 2007.

    According to the APC chieftain, “while most Nigerians across board see Buhari as reliable and predictable, many doubt Atiku’s credentials because it has enmeshed in so many fraudulent allegations for a long period of time.”

    Highlighting Buhari’s achievement upon why he should be reelected for a second term, he said, “in the three and a half years in the saddle, despite the challenges, Buhari has impacted on all partied the country through construction if 25 major roads and infrastructure in all the six geo-political zones – through the N100 billion Sukuk Bond issued in 2017.

    “For his foresight, the railway will soon be fully operational. Very soon, the Mambilla hydro power plant will generate 5,000 MW electricity. The Anchor Borrowers Scheme has made hundreds of peasant farmers to become millionaires overnight.

    “Nigeria’s economy is back on the path of growth, after the recession of 2016-17 (1.95 percent growth in Q1 2018), as the agriculture and solid minerals sector maintained consistent growth through the recession. External reserves rose to $47.5 billion, the highest in five years.

    Read Also: Miyetti Allah’s faction rejects Atiku

    “N2.7 billion spent on infrastructure in 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, an unprecedented allocation in Nigeria’s recent history. 14 moribund blending plants revitalised under the presidential fertilizer initiative (PFI), with a total production capacity of 2.3 million of MT of NPK fertilizer.”

    He continued, “Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (PIDF) in March 2018, invested  $10 million to establish a world-class cancer treatment centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and another $5million each in the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital  and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, to establish modern diagnostic centres, expected to have been completed by now.”

    On Atiku he said, “$16 billion entrusted in Atiku’s care for the upgrade of power supply infrastructure disappeared into thin air and in 2007, the Senate pannel, chaired by Victoria Ndoma-Egba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicted Atiku for diverting $145 million meant for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to various bank accounts linked to him between 1999 and 2006.

    “He was indicted by firmer Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro panel for sharing $74 million proceeds of the famous Halliburton bribe scandal to other top officials of the corrupt administration in which he served.

    “Atiku collected N100 million from former Governor if Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, being state’s ecological funds. When Darius cinfessed, former President Olusegun Obasanjo refunded his portion but Atiku held in to his till today and working freely while Dariye is cooling off in jail,” he alleged.

    He concluded by saying, “President Muhammadu Buhari has done exceedingly well and he is the only choice for 2019 that has the capacity and sincerity of purpose to salvage Nigeria from the brink of collapse.”

  • 53 suitcases haunt Atiku in Kebbi

    THE anger against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Kebbi State knows no bound for despising the 18th Emir of Gwandu, Alh. Haruna Rasheed, over the controversial 53 suitcases said to have been brought into the country during the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari as a military head of state. The suitcases,  flown into the country  when there was a change in national currency,  were reportedly cleared by his Aide-De-Camp (ADC),  Major Mustapha Jokolo, who was a son to the emir.

    But Atiku recently stoked the fire  in a statement issued by his spokesman, Paul Ibe. He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari accusing the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar, of planning to smuggle in looted funds into the country just before the February 2019 elections. This new accusation, like their previous allegations, is another infantile outburst that tells more about the accuser than Atiku Abubakar. For the avoidance of doubt, history shows that rather than smuggle in looted cash, Waziri Atiku Abubakar has a record of preventing looted funds from being smuggled into Nigeria. In 1984, it was Atiku Abubakar, as head of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department, that stopped the ADC of the then Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money into the country.”

    The late emir, in the eyes of his subjects, ruled Gwandu Emirate with impeccable records for 42 years, but Atiku poured tar on the deceased as if he committed a sacrilege.  Sources tell Sentry that many emirs in the North and most indigenes of Kebbi State were miffed by the fact that Alhaji Atiku ignored a court pronouncement to play politics with the 53 suitcases and cast aspersions on the late traditional ruler, who was the only indigenous president of the Northern House of Chiefs and a former acting governor of the defunct Northern Region.

    Emir Mustapha Jokolo, who was then the  ADC to Buhari, had sued Africa Independent Television (AIT) over the documentary, “The Real Buhari”,  on the  same 53 suitcases and won the libel matter.  Candidate Atiku, it was thought, ought to have taken notice of the judicial pronouncement, but failed to do that. It is feared that Candidate Atiku, on account of the controversial statement, may have  lost the sympathy of many voters in the state. Alhaji Jokolo was more forthcoming when he sarcastically suggested: “All said and done, Atiku should not lose hope of being the President in 2023.” But what of 2019?