UPDATE! INEC’s server shows I defeated Buhari with 1.6 million votes - Atiku alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party says its candidate in the February 23rd presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, beat its main contender and incumbent, President Buhari, by 1.6 million votes.

Punch reports that the party stated this in a petition it filed before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja on Monday March 18th.

INEChad on February 27, 2019 declared that Buhari won the election with 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku, whom it said polled 11,262,978 votes.

However, the party’s petition stated that “from the data in the 1st respondent’s (INEC’s) server…the true, actual and correct results” from “state to state computation” showed that Atiku polled a total of 18,356,732 votes to defeat Buhari whom they said scored 16,741,430 votes”.

The opposition party said the results were the total votes scored by the candidates in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, as there was “no report on sever” about the results from Rivers State as of February 25, 2019.

By this, Atiku claims to have defeated Buhari with 1,615,302 votes.

The five grounds of the petition reads

“The 2nd respondent (Buhari) was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election. The election of the 2nd respondent is invalid by reason of corrupt practices. The election of the 2nd Respondent is invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). The 2nd respondent was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the said election.

“The 2nd respondent submitted to the 1st Respondent an affidavit containing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification for the said election.”

On the grounds that President Buhari isn’t qualified to run for the seat of president, the party said

“The 2nd respondent (Buhari) does not possess the educational qualification to contest the election to the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The petitioners state that by Section 31 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election submit to the Commission in the prescribed form the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.

“Further, by Section 31(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the list or information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State or Federal Capital Territory indicating that he has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.

“The 2nd respondent filled and submitted Form CF001 to the 1st Respondent, which was declared before the Commissioner for Oaths at the Registry of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the 8th day of October, 2018. The said Form CF001 is accompanied by an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT indicating that the 1st Respondent received same.

“The petitioners aver that the said Form CF001 filled by the 2nd Respondent and submitted to the 1st Respondent for the Office of President was also accompanied by the Curriculum Vitae of the 2nd Respondent as well as GENERAL FORM OF AFFIDAVIT duly sworn to by the 2nd respondent at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, along with copies of his Membership Card of the 3rd Respondent and Voter Card.

“The information submitted to the 1st respondent (INEC) by the 2nd respondent (Buhari) is false and of a fundamental nature in aid of his education qualification, notwithstanding that he had declared in the said sworn affidavit as follows: ‘I hereby declare that all the answers, facts and particulars I have given in this Form, are true and correct and I have to the best of my knowledge, fulfilled all the requirements for qualifications for the office I am seeking to be elected’.”

The party argued that the educational institutions President Buhari claimed to have attended and the certificates presented by him namely, Elementary School Daura and Mai Aduaa between 1948 and 1952, Middle School Katsina between 1953 and 1956 and Katsina Provincial College (now Government College, Katsina) between 1956 to 1961 and mentioned by the 2nd respondent in his curriculum vitae attached to Form CF 001, were not in existence as of those mentioned dates.”

Names of 21 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 18 other lawyers appeared on the petition.

The legal team is led by Mr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN).

They sought among their five main prayers, that the tribunal should determine that Buhari “was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast in the said election” and therefore his declaration and return by INEC “as the President of Nigeria is unlawful, undue, null, void and of no effect”.

They also prayed that Atiku having been “duly and validly elected” ought to be “returned as President of Nigeria, having polled the highest number of lawful votes cast at the election to the office of the President of Nigeria held on February 23, 2019 and having satisfied the constitutional requirements for the said election.

They sought “an order directing the 1st respondent (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st petitioner (Atiku) as the duly elected President of Nigeria”.

They also asked the tribunal to rule that Buhari “was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the said election”, and that he “submitted to the Commission affidavit containing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification for the said election”.

However, they sought as their alternative prayer, “that the election to the office of the President of Nigeria held on February 23, 2019 be nullified and a fresh election ordered.”

The petitioners are relying on 50 sets of documents which they, in the petition, gave INEC the notice to produce the original copies of those in its custody.

Some of the documents are, “INEC Nomination Form CF001 of the 2nd respondent (Buhari); all INEC result sheets;(Form EC8 Series), EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and EC8E – Certificate of Return; PDP Party Membership Cards; INEC Voter Cards; all witnesses’ party membership cards; and all Witnesses’ Voter Cards.”

The petitioners also sought to rely on, “the circulars/corrigenda/manuals issued by INEC for the conduct of the Presidential Election held on 23/2/2019; Polling Unit materials checklist; summary of total registered voters on units’ basis; summary of PVCs collected on units’ basis; Voter Registers and letters of complaints over irregularities and malpractices during the election addressed to the INEC/Police/other relevant agencies/institutions.”

They also sought to rely on “security reports relating to the election video/audio recordings/DVD/CD relating to the Election; Election Observers’ or Observers’ Reports; Newspaper/Television/ Radio reports and news; appointment letters and tags of PDP agents; expert reports and analysis; and photographs and GSM and other phone outputs”.

via Yabaleftonline

Exclusive Reports - APC Knocks Atiku , Obi Over Amnesty For Looters

The All Progressives Congress (APC ) yesterday lambasted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) , Atiku Abubakar , and his running mate , Peter Obi , for proposing to offer amnesty to looters of public funds if they win the presidential election .

LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that in Wednesday night ’ s televised interview , entitled The Candidates, which featured Atiku and Obi , the PDP flag bearer had stated that he would consider granting amnesty to looters of public treasury if they return what they had stolen .
But in its reaction yesterday , the ruling APC declared that Nigerians would never return to the era of looting of national resources and wealth .

In a statement entitled ‘ Whose Interest Does Atiku ’ s Presidency Bid Serve?’ the APC national publicity secretary , Mallam Lanre Oni - Issalu , faulted Atiku’ s plan to grant looters amnesty , if elected , adding that Nigerians would never return to Egypt , a proverbial reference to the biblical story of Israelites leaving their enslavement in Egypt for the Promised Land that God had promised their forefathers.
The party said : “ It is disturbing that Atiku and his returning mate , Peter Obi , could boldly face the national , and indeed , global audience boasting that the future of our country belongs to the looters .

“ As a matter of fact , Alhaji Atiku repeatedly told a bewildered nation that those who caused poverty, unemployment , poor infrastructure and misery for many Nigerians under his watch as the vice president would be left to enjoy our commonwealth as long as they turned in part of what they have stolen . This no doubt must have gladdened the hearts of all the enemies of our country .
“ In a barefaced manner , the PDP presidential candidate , Alhaji Atiku, promised to roll out the red carpet for people who have wickedly teamed up with him under PDP to ruin our country, in an environment such as ours where many ordinary Nigerians, not being Atiku ’ s friends , are wallowing in prison for stealing their neighbours ’ goats , phones , food and such. ”

According the party , while Atiku tries to spread falsehood on the ongoing fight against corruption and efforts to ensure credible 2019 general elections , the real issue remains Atiku ’ s desperation to sell off the remaining national economic assets to his friends as he did in the past and has promised to do again if elected.
“ Atiku’ s bid to trade national assets as an incentive for the support of his friends and foreign investors must be resisted.

“ For the All Progressives Congress , we would not get tired of reminding the PDP and Atiku that Nigerians will never return to Egypt . The era of unbridled corruption and impunity is one mission the President Muhammadu Buhari - led government is determined to fight and win under a free , fair , and credible electoral process , with the support of well - meaning Nigerians, ” the party stated .

Via Leadership.ng

Exclusive Reports - Boko Haram: I will be willing to investigate the military hierarchy – Atiku Abubakar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said that his government would be willing to investigate the military hierarchy as a way of tackling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, if elected.

Abubakar said this at a town hall meeting tagged: The Candidates, organised by the MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with NTA and DARIA media on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that his government would not hesitate to deal with any senior officer who failed in his duty after being adequately funded by his government.

We cannot continue to accept that kind of situation whereby commanders lose lives, lose equipment to terrorists and then nothing happens to them, he said.

The PDP presidential also said that he would be willing to investigate the report of Amnesty International indicting the military on allegations of genocide.
He stressed the need for government to invest more in education and health sectors as well as to bring in more private investors to compliment governments programmes in the health sector.
He said that if re-elected he would resend a bill to the National Assembly to prosecute any government at any level that managed education funds.

Asked if he would accept the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election if he lost, Abubakar said that why not, if the election is credible?
On the issue of farmers and herdsmen clashes, Abubakar said there was need to enlighten the herders on feeding lots.
There is need for extensive public sensitisation of these herders to adopt this solution to minimize this crisis, adding that this would not only reduce the crises, as it would also increase their income.

On the allegation that he paid less tax, Abubakar said what he paid was his personal income tax, while his companies paid their taxes also to government.
He added that there may be mistake in the privatisation done under his eight years when he was vice president but the programme was a success.

His Running Mate, Mr Peter Obi, said that the PDP government invested heavily in the power sector but that APC government had not invested anything in the sector.
If you say that the PDP spent $16 billion and there is no power, it is not true, Obi said.


Via Pulseng

APC warns the Igbo - Atiku will use and dump you if he's elected

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Igbo will not gain anything if Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is elected.
The ruling party said this in reaction to the endorsement of Atiku by Ohaneze Ndigbo.
The Anambra state government has since distanced itself from the endorsement of the PDP candidate.

Speaking with journalists on Friday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said the ambition of the PDP candidate does not enjoy the support of most people of the south-east.
“With a few members of Ohaneze falling for Atiku’s antics, it has now become clear that the purported endorsement of Atiku’s presidential ambition does not enjoy the support of most of the Igbos,” Issa-Onilu said.

“One of such proofs is the statement by the Anambra state government’s dissociating the state from the dubious endorsement of Atiku contained in the equally disputed communique.
“It would now seem that few people in Ohaneze are trying to misrepresent the interest of the Ndigbo and we wonder whether these people are part of Atiku’s friends that he has promised to make rich as a cardinal policy of his government?
“Many questions beg for answers. Besides the deceitful restructuring promise, what else do the Igbo stand to gain from an Atiku presidency? Nothing!
“Could it be that Atiku and the PDP’s restructuring rhetoric is selective and bespoke for specific audiences? The answer is yes! Atiku’s restructuring rhetoric is simply a convenient, simplistic and populist gimmick aimed at whipping up and exploiting perceived sentiments ahead of the 2019 elections.”

The spokesman said Nigerians should be wary of “Atiku and his PDP ilk who in their desperate quest for power are ever ready to play fraudulent political games and parade themselves as ethnic champions to the gullible.”
“Atiku has refused to speak on the nature of the restructuring that he is cashing in on. But little wonder because he is transactional in nature. Atiku has no plan for this country and he is not pretending about it,” he said.
“He has said it clearly and on many occasions that he is seeking power to be able to sell off national assets to make his friends and himself rich. There is no doubt that Atiku only intends to use and dump the Igbo people.
“Ndigbo should not forget that it was during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku as vice that Nigeria’s political history witnessed the frequent manipulated changes to the Senate Presidency and setting of Igbo brothers against one another for political gains.

“Without playing to the gallery, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has pursued a deliberate policy of probity, inclusive governance and national spread in the allocation of our national resources and developmental projects across the country.”
Issa-Onilu said the APC remains the most sincere political platform working to ensure better inclusion of all geo-political zones in the country.

“Their antecedents does not synchronise with the image they now purport which is dangerous. They are latter-day converts on the issue of restructuring who hitherto occupied public offices and did nothing on the issues of restructuring,” he said.
“They have now regrouped to exploit the issue of restructuring in furtherance of their selfish political interests.”

Exclusive Reports - Real reason Buhari refused to debate with Atiku – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared that it would be demeaning for President Muhammadu Buhari to engage Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in a debate on the same stage.
Addressing a press conference Sunday evening in Abuja, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated that debate is meant for those that are seeking power.

The spokesman disclosed that Buhari was already engaging with the public through several other platforms which are considered more important and meet APC’s interest.
He said: “The president doesn’t have to give any reason at all for not attending that debate. The debate is just one of the several platforms that are available for our candidate to engage with the public, we cannot exhaust all the platforms. So we pick the platforms that are most impactful and we are the ones in the position to determine which platform we want to use.
“To debate with who? That is an insult, that the president will come debate with who? The debate the president is having is what he did that morning in Niger state. The people of Niger state can look forward to a brighter future. The people of this country, everywhere they go can see development, they can see projects going on. So these are the debates that the president is already engaging with public.

“So, that particular debate may be important and I think it is important to people who are seeking power, not for somebody who has a lot speaking for him already. So, for us in APC, the debate as a fantastic idea it is, it is just one of the several options for our own candidate to engage with the public. There are many platforms we have used, there are many platforms we are still going to use and there are many we may not use. It is up to us to chose the platforms that will serve own interests.

“Don’t forget, just few days before this debate came, the president was live for two hours with Nigerians discussing his projects. Beside him was the Vice President of this country, talking about his projects and having very important debate over those policies and projects with Nigerians, with people having unfettered access and opportunity to make calls to him, to seek clarifications and ask questions. That for us is what our candidate needs. That for us is more important.
“That gives us the opportunity to say we are different. We are not in the same class with Atiku and the PDP to come share the same stage with people who ruined this country. To talk about what?

“The same people who started several projects and they became conduit pipes and the APC government has come in, fixing all these projects one after the other. The same party complaining about the fact that we are completing projects. Is that the party you want us to stand on the same stage to debate with. Don’t take Nigerians for granted. We are not in the same class.”

Atiku Abubakar revealed the reason US is backing him

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the United States is in support of his presidential bid.
Atiku, who visited the country for the first time in 13 years, said this in an interview with VOA. The interviewer had asked: “Are you convinced that the United States government is in support of your candidacy?” and he responded: “yes.”

Asked to explain further, Atiku said: “There is no doubt because the United States is ready to support any country that is practicing democracy.”
He dismissed the reports that the US refused to grant him visa for over 10 years because he was linked to a corruption case.
“The whole thing is about misinformation… for a very long time they, have been lying to them (Nigerians); I tried to explain to them but they refused to listen. And I hope now people are going to understand.”
He said he visited the US because they decided to issue him a visa, adding that he would not have made it if they had declined his visa request.

“And now they have issued it to me and I am here. I’m having some positive discussions with some of the officials,” he said.
“I was in the Congress and I had discussions with some high ranking Congress men and Women about Nigeria and how Nigeria intends to improve her relationship with the United States of America.”

Exclusive Report - Presidential candidate, Atiku campaigns in Niger; promises women, youth employment

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his promise to create more job opportunities for unemployed women and youth in the country, if elected president.He restated the promise on Wednesday in Minna, while addressing party supporters at a rally.

He also harped on the need for better infrastructural development in the Niger State.The presidential candidate claimed that over 10 million Nigerians, including women and youth, had lost their jobs in the last three and half years of the All Progressives Congress-led administration. Mr Abubakar promised to create employment opportunities in the country.He said that infrastructure in the country, includingroads, schools and hospitals, were built by previousPDP administrations, calling on Nigerians to vote out the ruling party.

According to him, the APC government has failed to deliver its promises of 2015 to fight corruption,insecurity and eradicate poverty in the country.“Today, insecurity is not only peculiar to the Northeast, but we now have insecurity in North Central and North West; APC has failed to controlinsecurity.“Our campaign is issues based; which is to fight corruption, restore back security and eradicate poverty in the country if voted into power.“The roads we see today were constructed by PDP administration since 2008, other social amenities we have were built by PDP, we appeal to you to vote out APC in the forthcoming elections,” he said. Mr Abubakar gave an assurance that he would create an enabling and friendly environment for businesses and investors, as well as revive industriesthat would bring about wealth in the country.Earlier, Senate President and Director General of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Bukola Saraki, decried what he called the high level of poverty, insecurity and corruption in the country.

He said that the APC-led government had failed inproviding security for the people.In his remarks, AUmaru Nasko, PDP gubernatorial flag bearer in Niger, appealed to the people of theState to vote Mr Abubakar as president and himselfas the state governor.He reiterated his promise of N20,000 monthly stipends for unemployed youths in the state if elected as governor.In their separate remarks, Tanko Berji, Chairman of PDP in Niger, and Mu’azu Aliyu, a former Governor of Niger State, called on the electorate to come out en masse to vote for PDP candidates across the country.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other dignitaries in attendance include Tenmu Turaki,Rabiu Kwankwaso, Phillip Aduda, Shem Zagbayi and Zainba Kure.

Via NAN

EXCLUSIVE REPORT - Ayo Fayose to inaugurate Atiku Abubskar Campaign Council in Ekiti on Tuesday

Former Governor of Ekiti State and Southwest Coordinator of the Atiku/Obi PDPPresidential Campaign Council, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and the PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr Eddy Olafeso will tomorrow,Tuesday, January 8, 2019 inaugurate the Ekiti State chapter of the Atiku/Obi PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

The inauguration will take place at the campaign office, Olora junction, Adebayo, Ado Ekiti at 2pm.According to the Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, the council is to be chaired by the State former Deputy Governor and PDP candidate in the 2018 governorship election, Prof Kolapo Olusola while Chief Dipo Anisulowo will serve as Director General and State Chairman of the party, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase as Secretary.

Via Vanguardngr

Presidential Candidate, Atiku seeks probe of allegation linking Buhari’s family to Keystone, 9mobile ownership

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , Atiku Abubakar , has called on the appropriate authorities to urgently institute a probe to unravel those he said may be hidden faces behind the new ownership structure of multi billion naira telecoms giant, Etisalat ( now 9 mobile ) Nigeria as well as Keystone Bank .

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday and signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communication , Mr . Phrank Shaibu , the former vice president said such a probe was necessary in view of reports that members of President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s family now own substantial shares in Etisalat ( 9 mobile ) Nigeria which has an estimated $ 2 b ( about N727 b at 360 per dollar ) of its estimated $ 20 b global net worth .

Atiku also expressed shock at reports from what he described as unimpeachable sources that the first family now plays big in the nation ’ s financial sector after acquiring mouthwatering shares in Keystone Bank with total assets of $ 1 . 916 b ( equivalent to N307 . 5 b) as well as purchasing about N3 b worth of shares in the new Pakistani Islamic Bank .

He said , “ I know that last week was turbulent for President Buhari and I apologise for adding to his woes , but as he is insistent on the myth that he is spotless and anti -corrupt, if this is found to be true , this scandal would break every rule of corporate and public governance , since this will be the first time members of the first family will be openly involved in a once -in -a - lifetime deal that would make them all richer beyond their wildest dreams . ”

Atiku added that the accusation was coming amidst reported allegations in the media that the All Progressives Congress- led Federal Government plans to use billions of naira from the Anchor Borrowers Programme allocated by the Central Bank of Nigeria for farmers , using imaginary donations from 12 million farmers as a façade.
The presidential candidate of the PDP advised President Buhari to shun the use of state resources and machinery for the upcoming 2019 presidential poll .

Specifically, Atiku said no farmer contributed any N1 . 7 b for Buhari ’ s re -election campaign, warning that the APC ’ s decision to use monies meant for farmers “ to run his campaign is not tidy at all . ”

He added , “ The other day , a man who scored 15 , 424 , 921 votes to win the 2015 general election was reported to have been nominated by 14 million APC members at the presidential primaries for 2019 .
“ Now, over 12 million farmers have donated to his campaign. Are they indirectly spewing out outrageous figures of people they intend to claim voted for them in the coming elections ?
“ Does it mean that the President has jettisoned the idea of a free and fair election and telling Nigerians that no matter how they vote , he will return for a second term of four years ?
“ In any case, if the farmers who just took a loan through the Borrowers Anchor programme and have not liquidated the facility can donate this huge sum or any sum for that matter , it means the ‘ Association of widows ’ and children of all those slain by Boko Haram and herdsmen will donate N5 b to the Buhari campaign .
“ In fact , the 23 . 1 million youths who lost their jobs between 2016 till date will donate about N12 b to the Buhari campaign.
“ Assuming but not even conceding that such a huge sum of money was donated to President Buhari by Nigerian farmers as his handlers would want Nigerians to believe , wouldn’ t such donation be in contravention of Section 91 ( 9 ) of the Electoral Act 2010 ( as amended ) which says no individual or other entity shall donate more than N1 m to an aspirant or a candidate . ”

He said if President Buhari wants to run for office next year, he should take only from monies sourced from donations by his campaign groups that are independent of government .
“ Anything short of that – as is currently the case with the use of funds from the CBN meant for farmers - will mean there will be no level playing field for all the candidates billed to contest the presidency during next year’ s presidential elections , ’’ Atiku said.
But reacting , the APC National Publicity Secretary , Mallam Lanre Issa -Onilu , said Atiku had started exhibiting early signs of depression, resulting from obvious frustration .
In a statement made available on Wednesday , Issa -Onilu challenged Atiku to tell Nigerians why a discredited person like him should be elected as President instead of raising puerile allegations on a daily basis .

“ President Buhari and APC, not his programmes for the country, appear to be his main campaign issues . Nigerians are desirous of campaign that focuses on issues that matter to them . For Atiku and his PDP co-travellers , the only interest is to grab power and continue where they stopped in their avarice .
“ The APC administration is eager to showcase the impressive achievements we have recorded in the last three and a half years. This is the campaign that matters to us and this is what Nigerians are interested in . The trajectory is exciting as we see a brighter future shaping up .
The statement added, “ We won ’ t yield to the PDP ’ s shenanigans . We will not play the PDP ’ s game . PDP is acting an anti- people’ s script . President Buhari remains unshaken by the desperate efforts being made by Atiku and the PDP to blackmail the APC government . Everyone who was involved in corrupt practices would be brought to justice.

“ PDP is not offering any alternative to the progressive course this government is pursuing . It is actually apparent that the party is not contesting the 2019 elections to redeem itself , least of doing any good for the country , but simply to seize power to escape justice for the grevious crimes committed against the people of this country .
Nigerians won’ t be fooled by the rapacious PDP gang . Never . ”

Via Punchng

Miyetti Allah says Atiku will divide Nigeria if he becomes the president

The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State , Garus Gololo , on Thursday took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , stating that if elected, he ( Atiku ) would create division in the country .

Gololo was reacting to a statement by Atiku campaign media organisation . One of the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign spokesmen , Phrank Shaibu , had earlier in the week said there would be more killings of farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen if President Muhammadu Buhari was re -elected next year .
The Miyetti Allah leader in Benue State said it was wrong for Atiku to have made such inciting statement , noting that it was not only Fulani herdsmen that had issues with farmers in Nigeria .

He said , “ We Fulani herdsmen are not killers and before Buhari came to power , there were crisis between farmers and herders in Benue , Tarawa , Nasarawa , Adamawa and some other states .
He said , “ I am disappointed in Atiku because he had already divided Nigeria even when he has not come to power . Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen , he is a Nigerian and it is the people of Nigeria that voted him into power and l believe they will still vote him again in 2019 . ”

“ Nigerians should ask Atiku about the N68 . 8 bn proceeds from NEPA which he sold when he superintended over the privatisation process of the then NEPA .
“ People should talk about the power plants or the money he raised from the sale of that public asset . As far as I am concerned, Atiku is not a credible candidate to contest the coming presidential election in Nigeria because he is so sentimental and if they vote him in as president , he would divide Nigeria the more.
“ So , for us Fulanis , we are not killers , neither are we criminals nor kidnappers and President Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen. It is the people of Nigeria who voted Buhari in 2015 and they will still vote him . The crisis between farmers and herdsmen is a common thing everywhere across the world it is not peculiar to Nigeria . ”

Gololo asked the PDP presidential candidate if herdsmen were responsible for killings when he was a vice president .

Via Punchng

President Buhari supporters groups declare support for Atiku

Fifty -nine support groups for President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s re -election have endorsed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for President .
The groups explained that they took the decision because “ the government we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people and we cannot continue to reinforce failures. ”

Speaking at a ceremony in Abuja on Monday night , the National Coordinator, Grassroot Mobilisers for Buhari , Yusuf Ardo , accused the Buhari Administration of failing to appoint youths into his government .
He noted that the nation ’ s economy which was rated as the fastest growing economy in Africa had become comatose under the Buhari government , stressing that the administration had shown that it was clueless .
Ardo said, “ Today, our country is faced with legions of challenges , our economy that was the fastest growing in Africa has become comatose under the present government which has shown that it was unprepared and completely clueless . We believe under Atiku , our economy will be revived and returned to the path of progress . ”

The National Publicity Secretary of the group , Nathaniel Isah , criticized the Tradermoni programme of the FG, stating that it was a scheme to influence voters .
Also speaking , the Coordinator, Legend Youth Mobilisers , Abdulazeez Zubair , stated that the hardship in the country informed their decision to withdraw support for Buhari .

“ I am a student of Yusuf Maitama Sule University , Kano , things are very tight in the country . My father could no longer support my education on account of the economic downturn in the country. We decided to support Atiku because we believe he can do better , ” he stated.

via punchng

EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Nyesom Wike reported resigns from Atiku campaign

Governor Nyesom Wike has reportedly vowed to dump the Atiku campaign. The Rivers governor is said to be angered over not being at the central of the presidential planning. Top party members are pleading with him to reconsider his decision
There is tension in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged move by the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike to dump the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar who is the flagbearer of the party for 2019.

Wike was appointed South-South coordinator for the presidential campaign but The Nation reports that the governor is set to dump the position over alleged neglect from the central of things.

It was reported that governors, ex-ministers and top leaders of the party have been begging the governor to rescind his decision.
There has been speculation that unlike the emergence of the chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, which was largely with the support of Wike, the party has moved away from his dominance as seen with the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate instead of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal whom Wike supported.
A top source within the party said they were shocked by Wike’s move.
The source said: “We were all shocked to read of his plans to quit as the South-South coordinator of PDP campaign for Atiku. All our leaders have been in panic since the news broke out. This development will be a setback if not quickly reversed.
“As I talk to you, most PDP governors, leaders, ex-ministers, ex-governors and leaders have been begging Wike to rescind his decision. This is what we have been doing today (Saturday).”

“Wike never complained about any issue; he has not expressed reservations on the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and he just came out with a bang.
“The PCC was representational of all the tendencies in the party. It took us much time to release the final list because of consultations. Atiku, who was in the custody of the list, was always tinkering with it after due consultations with the party hierarchy and leaders.
“Contrary to Wike’s claim, no director was brought from outside. All the directors were appointed from the National Working Committee.
“Let me give some examples. The Contact and Mobilisation Directorate is headed by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu; Kola Ologbondiyan is in charge of the directorate of Media and Publicity; and Finance is being managed by Abdullahi Maibasira, just to mention a few.
“Wike himself put the NWC in place with his boy, Uche Secondus as the national chairman. To avoid this type of rancour, the party restricted the choice of directors to NWC members. There is no basis for Wike’s complaint because he owns the present NWC of PDP.”

Another source said the Rivers governor was angry as his fast loss of the control of the party. The source said: “Wike’s anger has to do with perceived gang up against him in the party to clip his wings. He only hid under alleged lack of consultations with him in constituting the PCC. He is just waking up to the reality that he has lost the grip of the party.
“Before the National Convention of the party in Port Harcourt, he was calling the shots in the party including the financing of PDP. For paying the piper, he was dictating the tunes. This wholesale control of PDP gave him the confidence that Tambuwal will emerge as PDP presidential candidate.

“Unknown to Wike, some party leaders decided to clip his wings. To jolt him, they toyed with the idea of changing Port Harcourt as the venue of the National Convention in order to gauge his mood. He became riotous to the extent of threatening the party and making allusions to Atiku.
“The second stage of the plot against Wike was the stoppage of the party’s leadership going cap in hand to him for funds. Some leaders of the party, including those who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP started financing the party covertly.
“The final stage was the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the party contrary to Wike’s permutations. He was devastated to the extent that he could not wait to listen to the acceptance speech of Atiku.”
Responding to a question, the source said:
“The true position of the game in PDP is that the power equation in the party has changed. The party leadership does not source funds from him anymore and it defers mostly to Atiku, the National Leader of PDP, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who was central to the mobilisation of support for Atiku.”
A member of the Presidential Campaign Council reportedly said: “The challenge at hand is that Wike has not fully accepted the choice of Atiku. But he should know that God gives power and he also takes power from leaders.

“For instance, our evaluation so far revealed that it is only in Rivers State that government functionaries and party leaders do not work for Atiku because they are reading the body language of Wike. We are relying on a few friends and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to mobilise support. His threat to quit is just the icing on the cake.”

Via LEGIT.NG

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: I did not travel to the US - Atiku Abubakar

The Peoples Democratic Party's presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has denied report that he had travelled to the United States of America. A report in The Cable had claimed that presidential candidate of the main opposition had reportedly been granted a United States visa.
However, in a reaction, Atiku media aide Paul Ibe who spoke to Leadership denied reports he had travelled to the US but added the politician had gone on a private visit to the United Kingdom.
He said Atiku is back and preparing for his campaign which starts on Monday December 3 in Sokoto state.

According to an earlier report which appeared in The Cable on Saturday, December 1, Atiku was said to have recently got the visa and is expected to travel to the United States of America.
The report which quoted a family source had confirmed the acquisition of the visa but said he has yet to travel to the US.

Atiku was reported to have left for the United Kingdom where he reportedly would be for some time before his purported US visit. While the report of US visit was denied by Paul Ibe, he did corroborate the UK visit but added it was a private visit. He further confirmed that Atiku was since back to the country for his campaign in Sokoto state.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku's one-time boss was alleged to have played a big role in getting the US to grant Atiku the said visa.

While the reports of Atiku's UK-US travel is still the subject of controversy, secrecy and intrigues , Legit.ng could not immediately independently verify the authenticity of the report until the latest denial.
However, the report comes just days after the
federal government of Nigeria told the US to be cautious in granting visa to Atiku Abubakar, in order not to create the impression of endorsing him for the 2019 election.

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, had gaven the government's position at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday, November 29.

Mohammed said that the government was aware of the move by the former vice president to lobby the US to lift the visa ban imposed on him. Atiku's camp had been confident of him getting the visa.
Recall Legit.ng reported that former senior special assistant on public affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe,
revealed that Atiku Abubakar would be travelling to the United States of America by the end of November .
Okupe, who is a former spokesperson to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, disclosed this on his Twitter page on Sunday, November 4.
Not long ago, Legit.ng also reported that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that former president Obasanjo was working on how to get an American visa for Atiku .
The party said in a statement signed by its acting national spokesman Yekini Nabena on Saturday, October 13 that it has information that Obasanjo is trying to get the US to lift Atiku's entry ban into that country.
The APC said Obasanjo's move to help Atiku enter the US where he is allegedly banned from entering because of a purported corruption case, is evidence of the former president's hypocrisy.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the PDP and a former vice president of Nigeria for eight years on the same political platform between 1999 and 2007 has been involved in a controversy over his inability to go to the United States.
Atiku was reportedly indicted in a corruption case that involved one of his wives Jennifer and some transaction with his American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamwa state.
Although FBI searches of his property in the US did not turn up anything suspicious, he was said to have been issued a travel ban to the US and the matter has since hung over his political career.

Via LEGIT.NG

Exclusive: Bukola Saraki - Atiku possesses qualities that will determine choice of Nigerians

The President of the Senate and Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, possesses the qualities that Nigerians will use to determine who they will elect in the 2019 Presidential election.
The President of the Senate and Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Saraki said that Nigerians need a President who understands the economy, can drive investment and also secure lives and property.

He said that PDP had a candidate who had understanding of what it takes to move Nigeria forward, drive investments, unite Nigerians and run inclusive government.
“We believe that Atiku Abubakar has the background, has the understanding and knows what it takes to address those issues,” he said.

Saraki re-emphasised that the party campaign would be issue based, saying “we are more focused.”
He said what the party believed in was how the average Nigerian’s life and the economy were going to be better.
“Largely, the most important issue in this country today is, are we better off? As the average Nigerian, are we better off?
“The answer comes back to the economy, and for it to come to the economy, you must be a President that understands what will create employment for our youths.

“To do that, it’s not just by government spending money, it is to create environment where people will be ready to come and invest ,” he said.
Saraki said he believed that Abubakar, with his background and the time he had spent as vice president, was in a good position to move the country forward

via Pulse.ng

Atiku Abubakar - I am ready for presidential debate

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has told President Muhammadu Buhari that he is ready for a debate with him ahead of the 2019 elections.
Abubakar told Buhari this on Thursday at the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council in Abuja.

He also said he is dedicated to an issued-based campaign and not “attack on individuals.”
“I have been asked to remind the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari that I, Atiku Abubakar, am ready for a debate,”he said.
Abubakar also called for the removal of Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, before the elections.

The opposition has at various times accused Idris of compromise, especially as it relates to elections.
“We must demand the removal of the inspector-general of police. As members of the campaign council, you have the responsibility to ensure our mandates are achieved,” he said.
“We must run a disciplined campaign based on issues. We are facing an APC government desperate for power so this will be a tough if not toughest campaign.”
“I made clear from the beginning that my campaign will be focused on issues rather than attack on characters. Nigerians know the APC government has failed woefully. We must continue to remind our people of that and also tell them what we will do differently.”

The PDP presidential candidate called on Buhari to sign the electoral act amendment bill which have been forwarded to him by the national assembly.
“While it is customary to require politicians to conduct themselves well, good laws are essential for this,” he said.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law without further delay the electoral act amendment which is on his desk if he is truly interested in the conduct of free and fair elections.”

2019: Secondus, others meet Atiku Abubakar over running mate, campaign council

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party led by its National Chairman , Prince Uche Secondus, has met with the 2019 presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar .

The meeting , which held at the party’s presidential campaign office, otherwise known as Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja , on Sunday night, was the first interface the party would have with Atiku since he won the presidential primary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State , on Sunday morning.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that Atiku and his team were the first to arrive for the meeting . They were said to have waited for Secondus and his team , who were delayed with flight schedule from Port Harcourt.
It was learnt that the meeting , which started late in the night, lasted for about two hours .
Authoritative sources at the meeting said that the party’s leaders discussed the issue of a running mate with Atiku and members of his team .

It was also gathered that Atiku was mandated to submit to the party a list of his preferred candidates as running mates to enable the party to discuss it with him.
A source said, “The meeting told the former Vice President that he should work with the party henceforth and that he has ceased from being a private person .

“The meeting demanded the list of those he considered could be his running mate . The party let him know that he has to carry its leadership along and that he (Atiku ) cannot unilaterally pick a running mate without the party ’s input .
“ Some names were mentioned , but the party’ s position was that a proper list should be compiled to enable both sides to look at the list and take a position . ”
The source said that some criteria were set for who should partner Atiku to enable it to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 14 , 2019 presidential election .
Such criteria , he said, included that the running mate should be younger than Atiku and be grounded in the economy.

“The party was very clear about these two areas . The running mate must be grounded in the economy and must also be younger than the presidential candidate , ” the source added.
The source added that series of meeting would be held within the week in order to enable the party to meet the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the submission of candidates ’ names for the elections .

He said, “There were other discussions concerning the setting up of the campaign council and those who should be there .
“In all , the candidate told the meeting that he was a team player and that he would always defer to it and that he could not do the job alone .

CONTINUE READING - PUNCHNG

Atiku Abubakar says, Nigerians will choose between lifeless candidate and job provider in 2019

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the February 14 , 2019 election , Atiku Abubakar, has said his emergence has brought confusion to the camp of his All Progressives Congress counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari .

He said this was the reason why the Buhari ’s camp felt that he (the former Vice- President ) won the PDP ticket as a result of money politics. Atiku said with his emergence as the PDP standard bearer in the 2019 presidential election , Nigerians would choose between him “a job provider ” and Buhari whom he described as a “ lifeless candidate . ”
But the APC described the former Vice- President as “a desperate , corrupt and an unreliable politician ” who it alleged had entrenched the anti - democratic practice of offering cash in exchange for votes.
However, a statement by Atiku’s media office in Abuja on Monday , said that the Buhari camp must have known that the era of favouritism had come to end in the country.

The statement said, “We are not surprised that there is confusion in the President ’s camp. We expected that they would be thrown into a catatonic state knowing that Atiku Abubabakr ’s emergence automatically means the coming to an end of their ignominious reign .
“That much was admitted by the President’ s former running mate , Pastor Tunde Bakare , when he praised the emergence of Atiku as an ‘eagle ’ and ‘a cosmopolitan wazobia ’ politician .
“Obviously , Pastor Tunde Bakare has foreseen that the era of 97 per cent versus five per cent has come to an end with the emergence of the pan- Nigerian Atiku Abubakar . ”
Atiku, in the statement, said that the wife of the President had even condemned the primaries of the ruling party , wondering if anyone could have known the APC more than her .

The statement said, “We ask , how can the Buhari Campaign Organisation disparage the PDP primary that produced Atiku, when even the President ’s own wife , Aisha Buhari , has condemned the APC’s primary?
“Not only did Mrs Buhari condemn the APC ’s primaries , she described them as ‘unfair’ and lacking in integrity . Who can know President Buhari better than his wife?”
In the statement, Atiku said there were other 11 aspirants that contested against him, adding that all of them had accepted his victory .

Buhari , who he said was the sole candidate of his party, was already being challenged by other five aggrieved interested aspirants.
He said, “11 aspirants contested against Atiku , during the presidential primary of the PDP . Every single one of them accepted his victory.
“President Buhari was the only candidate cleared by the APC to contest its primary. Yet, a coalition of five aspirants is challenging his victory. That alone tells Nigerians his emergence is fraudulent . ”
Atiku, who debunked the allegation of corruption against him, said as the most investigated politician in Nigeria , the President would have arrested him because of his (Buhari ’s) vindictive nature .

He stated , “ Nigerians know that Atiku Abubakar is the most investigated politician in Nigeria and any smear by the Buhari administration remains just that .
“With the vindictiveness of President Buhari , he would have arrested Atiku if he had been found wanting.
“However , to set the record straight, we want to remind Nigerians that the PDP ’ s primaries were genuine , free and fair . Atiku Abubakar got 1 ,532 votes in a contest televised live to millions of Nigerians . The APC’s primary, on the other hand, was a study in dictatorship and corruption . The sole candidate , Muhammadu Buhari , scored almost 15 million votes. How could that occur without rigging or manufacturing of faceless voters ?
“No wonder Transparency International rated Nigeria as more corrupt today under Buhari , than just three years ago when the PDP was in power .

“The scandals are too numerous , including the $ 25 bn NNPC contracts awarded without due process , the several padded budgets , the $ 41 m Ikoyi Apartment scandal, the recall, reinstatement and double promotion of an alleged pension thief and Buhari financier , Abdulrasheed Maina , the N 200 m grass cutting scandal, and many others too numerous to mention. ”
The former Vice - President said that in 2019 , Nigerians would choose between what he called a lifeless candidate and a job provider .
He said, “The choice before Nigerians in 2019 is a simple one . Nigerians have a choice of electing a lively candidate with a record of providing 50 ,000 jobs to Nigerians in his private capacity versus the lifelessness (apologies to President Donald Trump ) of a candidate under whom Nigeria lost 11 million jobs and became the world headquarters for extreme poverty.
“Nigerians have a choice of a man who will provide an efficient and business- friendly solution to the herdsmen crisis and a man whose government said ‘giving land for cattle ranching is better than death. ’
“It is very obvious that faced with such a choice , Nigerians would definitely vote for the man who will Get Nigeria Working Again, hence we are not surprised by this desperate statement from the Buhari administration that is so shameless that they made a man implicated in framing a man of God on spurious charges as their spokesman .
“If he can lie against a man of God, should Nigerians believe anything he says about the PDP and its candidate ? “

SOURCE | READ MORE- PUNCHNG

2019 Battle Begins: What Olusegun Obasanjo said about Atiku

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is certainly not a fan of Atiku Abubakar, his former vice-president, who is now the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. His various testimonials about his former deputy are trending online. The 72 year-old former customs officer, emerged on Sunday as the opposition’s standard bearer for the 2019 election, to face incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria’s Twitterati have been dredging out Atiku’s testimonial as given by Obasanjo, who said in a BBC TV interview why he willnever support Atiku for Nigeria’s highest office. He even stated the reason in his book, about hiseight-year presidency. Watch the video:

“God will never forgiveme “– OBJVideo credit:@Karovonipic.twitter.com/WPsS6kYWvC— Yekini Nabena (@ynabena)October 7,2018

Yekini Nabena@ynabena“God will never forgive me “– OBJVideo credit:@KarovoniHere is Obasanjo’s testimonial in the book, My Watch:“From the day I nominated Atiku to be my vice, he set his mind not for any good, benefit or service of the country, but on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or remove me at all cost and to take my place.“That was what I brought him for, but he was impatient and over-ambitious. He was not ready to learn and to wait. His marabout, who predicted that despite being elected as governor, he would not be swornin as a governor, which happened, also assured him thathe would take over from me in a matter of months rather than years.“All his plans, appointments of people and his actions were towards the actualisation of his marabout’s prediction.

Once I realised his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk without giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard. I could not succumb to the distraction, diversion and malevolence of an ambitious but unwise deputy.“The work in hand was more important than a confrontational relationship with my deputy, a man over whom I knew I had far more experience and outreach in all matters. To alert him of what Iknew he was up to, would only lead to lying, denial, more mischievous plans and more duplicity on his part.“He was better managed that way. What was important was not allowing myself to be surprised or outmanoeuvred by him. I must always seize the initiative and know what was going on if not in his mind, but atleast in his camp. That I did very effectively.“Sometime in the fourth quarter of 2004, an associate of Atiku came to my residence at the Aso Villa from Atiku’s official residence.

He felt uncomfortable and I tried to make him feel at ease. Then, he settled to tell me the story of what had just transpired in Atiku’s residence. I listened with rapt attention.“He went on to say that Atiku told him that for him to become the President of Nigeria, the 2007 elections were only a formality.“The seven ingredients he needed for his enthronement were already in his hands. He controlled the National Assembly because both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were in his pocket. He controlled twenty-eight out of thirty-six governors. He had control of the media. His influence over the judiciary was overwhelming.“What he needed was foreign endorsement and for that he had employed two lobby groups in the US and one in the UK. And finally, the money for the elections was in his purse.“When the man finished, I thanked him without passing any comment. The man was surprised at my reaction and asked, ‘You have nothing to say to these?’ I said that I had nothing to say and I immediately called my ADC, Chris Jemitola, toplay a game of squash with me.“On our way to the squash court with my ADC, I said, ‘People at times make plans and leave God out of their plans.’ My casual remark struck Chris and he said, ‘Sir, that was a profound statement.’ I said that I made the statement because of what I had just heard of Atiku’s plan.

I was not convinced he had put God in his plans.“Atiku was confident and God was laughing. Most of Atiku’s ingredients soon started to fall out of place one by one. The firstwas the party, PDP.“He thought I was powerless and had no clue about the execution of his plan with his group; part of his attack on me was for national chairman of the party to give the first salvo, then other things would follow as his grip on the party would be firm and consolidated.“That salvo came in the form of aletter to me from the chairman ofthe party, Audu Ogbeh, who had fully defected with (Iyorchia) Ayuto Atiku.“The letter, which was not the product of any issue or matter discussed with or at any party meeting, came suddenly.

When Ireceived it, I could read the sinister intention behind it.“I spent that night writing my reply and I sent it in the morning.My reply was clear. I wondered why Atiku and his group did not realise that with my reply, the battle line was clear or maybe they thought that the seven ingredients would remain intact to the end.“My assistants had moles withinthe Atiku group. Anything that they planned would be reported. That was the case after Ogbeh’s letter. They decided that Ogbeh should appear remorseful and come with the National Working Committee to apologise to me. Itwas not from their hearts, but to lure me to a ‘killing ground’.“All pieces of information that were reported were verified because it would not come from only one informant.

“Timely information is a very important principle of war and also of politics. In politics, just as in war, what matters is not just your plan, but knowledge of your opponent’s plan. Knowing their plan, I had the choice of playing along with them or beingfirm, I chose the latter.“I told Ogbeh that my relationship with him as nationalchairman and me as national leader of the party was based onmutual confidence and trust. Butwith his letter, my reply and whatI knew of him then, I could no longer work with him in confidence and trust.“

There were only two choices left for both of us in our best interest and that of the party – he, leaves as chairman or I leaveas leader of the party.“The following Sunday, I called at his house, which I had done on several occasions in the pastwhen there was an important party matter to discuss. This time, I asked him to give me an undated letter of resignation as the national chairman.“I waited, he gave me but it was wrongly addressed to me rather than to the national secretary of the party as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

SOURCE - PMNEWS

Abubakar Atiku petitions President Buhari over alleged threat to Life

Atiku Abubakar, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged threats to his life and those of his family members following his decision to contest the 2019 Presidential election.

Atiku, who is one of the aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed this in a petition, he addressed to President Buhari, dated September 7, 2018.The petition, enitled “Petition Over Criminal Intimidation And Threat To My Life, That Of Members Of My Family, And Cyber Stalking Using Mobile Phone Number 08148228704,”was copied to the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

In the Petition, Atiku requested additional police protection for his family and himself from the President stressing that his wife and daughters have received separate Short Message Service (SMS) from the mobile line warning that unless he backs out of the race, they would be raped and murdered. Atiku said the author of the threat text message said his family was being closely monitored. He called on President Buhari to order an urgent investigation into the matter pointing out that it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute real danger to national security, if not addressed.

He said “I present my highest compliments to the compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request Your Excellency kind review/investigation and urgent consideration of extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyber stalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number+2348148228704.”Atiku in the petition, said the author threatened that if he doesn’t withdraw from the contest, “we will kill, rape your wife and daughters”, whom they identified as Mariam who worked at CBN and Fatima, the former commissioner in Adamawa State.

According to Atiku, the writer of the SMS also threatened: “We will blow your plane off the sky and we will poison you and your family. You are going to see what we will do with your family. We know where and where your children travel to.”The petition further revealed that the author of the message also threatened to blow up all his property and those of his wives, saying, “We control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa. We are in government and Buhari will winagain. Your party members will never select you and if they do,we will assassinate you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane.”In the separate text messages to the wife and daughter, the author, according to Atiku, asked them to ask him to shelve his Presidential intent.The former Vice President however said “from the foregoing, Mr President can see that if adequate and urgentsteps are not taken to identify and deal with these threats, it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute real danger to national security.

“Considering that this threats border on the right of my familyand I to life as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the Presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person (s) behind the threat, expose and prosecute the culprit (s) in accordance with the laws.“I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended),” he said.

via VANGUARDNGR

Watch Video Has Atiku Abubakar revealed, What’ll happen if Buhari refuses to handover power after defeat

Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has revealed what will happen should President Muhammadu Buhari refuse to leave office in an event he is defeated in 2019.

Atiku, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said if President is defeated at thepolls, he will have no choice than to step aside.According to him, any refusal to step aside and handover power peacefully will plunge the country into political crisis, a situation the President may not want.

Speaking on a short interview on Pulse TV, the ex-Vice President said, “Buhari will have to leave power if he is voted out unless he wants to plunge this country into political crisis and I don’t believe he’ll want to do that.“But so far, he has done badly as far as electoral processes are concerned because there have been serious breeches of fundamental electoral processes.

“I felt there was a need for someone like me who’s experienced in politics; experienced in governance;experience in business to try and restore and bring back the country on track as far as economic development was concerned.”

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PART 2: Former Vice President and 2019 presidential aspirant, Atiku has in a recent interview shared his thoughts on the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in office so far . Do you agree with him? .#PulseNigeria#PulseWochit#PulseNews #Atiku #2019#Politics #Buhari A post shared by Pulse NG (@pulsenigeria247) onSep5, 2018 at 11:40am PDT