Remarks at PDP NEC Meeting By His Excellency Atiku Abubakar GCON, Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the PDP On Tuesday, 19th February 2019 At the PDP Headquarters, Abuja
Protocols --

I find it necessary to, firstly, pay tribute to every member of our great party, and our long-suffering people who directly bear the costs of the cancellation of the first phase of our general elections that was to commence on February 16th, 2019.

I am sure we can all relate to the losses and burden on our citizens who travelled to various destinations for the exercise.

This is in addition to the burden on election personnel willing to sacrifice in furtherance of our democracy.

Inadequately prepared and yet deployed to hostile centers, these personnel, like us all, have also become victims of the potentially destructive path upon which our country has been thrust.

Nevertheless, together we stand poised on the edge of victory, but we must not let down our guard or lessen our resolve as we have an opponent who will stop at nothing to retain power.

Our goal is not to gain power for our own sake, but for the people of our country who have been so hard hit by four years of APC cluelessness and incompetence.

Four years which have seen 14 million more of our people without jobs, more of our people killed than ever before and more of our people living in extreme poverty than any other nation on this planet.

Let us not forget that in the last three years of the last PDP, administration Nigeria had become the largest economy in Africa and in each of those years, we had the fastest growth rate in our continent.

And so true to our values and commitment to chart a new path for our beloved country, our campaigns have been issues based, offering Nigerians hope for a better tomorrow; while demanding free, fair, transparent and credible elections from the government.

The feedback from our supporters throughout the country confirmed their desire and willingness to entrust their destiny to us as a viable alternative to their hopelessness.

However, it now appears that our participatory democracy which we have enjoyed for 20 years, which empowers our citizens to decide who leads them, is under threat.

This is worrisome, considering the great sacrifices including the ultimate sacrifice made by many to uphold the tenets of democracy in our country.

You will recall that during the Peace Accord process, I stated in clear terms, quoting former President Goodluck that “my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

Today, I call on President Buhari, to make that same commitment to the people whose mandate he holds, while also urging all security agencies to uphold our constitution with an understanding that voting is a civil activity and civic responsibility.

The Nigerian military is constitutionally responsible for protecting our national integrity and its borders and has no role to play in the conduct of elections.



Additionally, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), once again to remain impartial arbiters while ensuring that they conduct credible elections, this time around.

INEC must ensure that all logistical challenges are addressed between now and Saturday, the 23rd, and that all materials retrieved from the field are inspected by participating political parties before the commencement of the elections.

My fellow Nigerians and party men and women, I am certain that you have also keenly followed with interest, utterances from the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Gen. Buhari, which is a painful reminder of the era of dictatorship and military rule.

Gen Buhari has repeatedly violated the constitution and failed to uphold the rule of law, recent instances include the unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the day before he was to appoint the judges for the electoral tribunals that will decide any appeals of whether any of our elections were subject to manipulation.

Thereby crossing the immutable line that divides the Executive from the Judiciary.

Alas, my concerns do not end there. Only yesterday Gen. Buhari said “the military and police should be ruthless” and “anybody who disturbs the voting system, will do it at the expense of his own life.”

It is quite shocking for any head of state to utter such words in a democracy. A pre-condition for ‘free, fair and credible’ elections is that the people are able to cast their vote without fear of violence.

Elected into office by the votes of the people in what is considered Nigeria’s most free, fair and credible election, you owe it to our people to let them give their verdict in the same way you were elected.

If you do, history will commend you for it. If you don’t history will condemn you for it.

We must now turn our attention to the upcoming elections this Saturday, where the destiny of our people and country will resoundingly be decided.

In spite of last week's disappointment, I urge all Nigerians to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice, keeping in mind our desire to build a democratic and economically viable nation that will be respected amongst the league of democratic nations.

So, let me reassure you my friends: we are going to win these elections. And to our long-suffering citizens, I say do not despair, our time is now, and together we shall reshape the destiny of our beloved country.

Together we can make Nigeria work again

God bless you and God bless Nigeria.

Released By:

Paul Ibe

Media Adviser to HE Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of PDP & Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007.

I saw no offense in the way Alh. Atiku Abubakar addressed Buhari. He is a president under the civilian democrasy but still a full time military dictator @ heart. Atiku is just calling a spade a spade
Like for Atiku, share for otherwise

Go and arrest him nah.

He is a thief. So he has no manners.

I agree, he would have referred to the Islamic extremist as Tyrant Buhari.

Imagine! A bloody terrorist!

Useless "quota system" general not deserving any respect.

Chukwurah003:
He is a thief. So he has no manners.

I thought Mr integrity is fighting corruption

If Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a thief like you've wrongly accused him , why can't Mr integrity jail him?

General Buhari is a blood sucking demon , A thief and a monumental failure .


General Buhari "Ole"
Tinubu "ole"
Oshiomhole "ole"

Even his wife called him General Buhari. We call him General Buhari when we want the world to know about his tyranny traits...

W

How else can you address a man who has no idea of what democracy is and no respect for the rule of law??

Atiku our president call him general buhari do your worst or your brainless one should do his worst too

@OP,
That's what his wife called him on twitter just yesterday when she tweeted "...GMB"

How do u expect a "born turuway" to behave before?

We failed to ask APC to define the kind of change they were promising Nigerians but now it's clear to all of us what change means to them. Repeating this failure by not asking for definition of "next level" is national suicidal.

SAI ATIKUOBI FOR BETTER LIFE FOR ALL NIGERIANS....


SAI MR job$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...............JOIN THE PDP FESTIVAL AND ATIKULATE TO VICTORY, JOIN THE WINING TEAM.... #BetterNigeriaWith Atiku Aguero ABUBAKAR.What can the failure buhari offer you except compound failure. The failure has already said last month, he will not change his pattern. Up Atiku Aguero Abubakar.

Immediate Infighting within the Presidents party :
Buhari has always been known to be a very cunning and divisive man who is very fond of speaking from both side of his mouth all just to protect his secret interest and he will immediately use this character to bring division into his ruling party where once again his inability to firmly set a direction would open the doors for chaos and spoils grabbing as no one knew how Buhari wanted the structure of party leadership to be , this lapse immediately brought about many camps within the party all infighting for the spoils of their latest conquest while the economy was left unattended.
The Outcome No unity between the party leadership, the executive and legislative right from the onset a problem that will further sacrifice the health of our already struggling economy further.

This northerners cum Muslims think everyone should worship buhari. Where they not the same people that stoned Gej convoy and nothing happened? Why do you think buhari deserve any more respect than the previous president? Is it because he is a northerner?

Alhaji Atiku will do anything to look relevant. Just look at the Reno Omokri's account(s) above me quoting each other. He has relocated to Nairaland since he was busted on twitter.

Let Atiku call him anything but he can't smell that seat.

No problem

What is born turuwey?

Okoroawusa:
How do u expect a "born turuway" to behave before?

General buhari oya zombies kill yourself

Even Aisha called him GMB! If crocodile eat their own eggs what will they not do to the flesh of a frog?

hisexcellency34:
What is born turuwey?

Help me ask Obasanjo

Come may 29, buhari will be regarded as the former president. We can't continue with this government that promotes religious discrimination, lack of value for human life,nepotism,poverty and terrorism

Lol people wan kill themselves over issue wey no assure them shishi.

Gmb and not pmb