The federal government has accused Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of planning to replicate the Venezuelan model in Nigeria, following media reports that he has hired a United States lobbying firm to convince the US not to recognise the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari until the Supreme Court rules on the suit.

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, disclosed this Thursday while addressing a press conference in Abuja.

He acknowledged that the government was aware of media reports that Atiku had on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that were circulating in Abuja.

The minister noted that If the media reports were right, it means that the former Vice President had suddenly realised the grave implication of his actions, hence he had decided to beat a quick retreat before it was too late.

Muhammed added that Atiku, as a self-avowed democrat, should realise that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election was through the courts, rather than resorting to self-help.

Noting that resorting to self-help is an act of desperation, he warned that the consequences were dire.

The minister stated: “The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost? Has he rescinded his decision to challenge the results of the presidential election in court, perhaps after realising that the results he claimed to have obtained from the INEC back server are cooked? Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?”

“There is no doubt that the PDP presidential candidate, out of desperation, is thinking of replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria. But he should realise that Nigeria is not Venezuela, and that the situations in both countries are not the same.

“President Muhammadu Buhari won the Feb. 23rd 2019 presidential elections fair and square, with a margin of 3,928,869 million votes. The election’s credibility was attested to by local and foreign observers.

“There is no doubt that President Buhari’s victory is well deserved. As I said at a different forum, it represents the triumph of the ordinary Nigerians over the elite. The election is a direct contest between ordinary Nigerians and the elite, most of whom are rent seekers. Of course, the ordinary Nigerians have won. This is not a surprise, considering the pro-poor policy of the Administration.”

Asked how possible was it to recreate a Venezuelan model in Nigeria, Mohammed said, “When you try to make inflammatory statement either through yourself or through your supporters capable of setting the country on fire. I won’t use the word as strong as treasonable felony, I won’t. But I will simply say that any act of anybody capable of creating crisis will not be tolerated by the government.”

The minister stressed that Atiku had the right to do whatever was lawful to challenge the outcome of that election, but stressed that he cannot get through the back door what he couldn’t get through the front door, saying that would be a pipe dream.

According to him, “If he believes hiring a foreign lobbying firm will advance his quest, we wish him the best of luck. But seeking US recognition as the winner of an election that he lost by almost 4 million votes is unconscionable. Recall, gentlemen, that after the result of the presidential election was announced, the US joined other countries to congratulate President Buhari.”

Muhammed stressed that Atiku would not be the first or the last person to lose an election, and he should realise that losing an election is not the end of the world.

He said that while he had challenged the result of the election in court, he should not give the impression that he does not have confidence in the judicial process, which is what resorting to self-help implies.

“He should stop overheating the polity and quit trying to instigate a political crisis in Nigeria. No citizen, no matter how highly placed, is above the laws of the land. Enough is enough!,” he warned.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/fg-atiku-desperate-to-replicate.html

Phew

APC running up and down, they are yet to show face at the Tribunal. Zombies how market

hmmmmm

But if FG are sure that what Atiku Is doing is treason and felony they should arrest him we are tire of Atiku today US lobbyist tomorrow

Sagamaje:
APC running up and down, they are yet to show face at the Tribunal. Zombies how market

Talk about d matter on ground n leave tribunal case for lawyers or are u one of d respondents or d accused

Buhari won fair and square, yet you guys are scared of filing a response.

Today is your last chance. Don't accuse the judiciary of working for PDP should go ahead to grant PDP's petitions through default judgment.