A former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has said that it is dangerous for any individual or group within the APC to constitute themselves into an opposition even before the constitution of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
He also expressed his loyalty to President Buhari.
The former Vice President made the call against the backdrop of development in the polity, which he noted were interplay of forces and dynamic interests that should not be promoted to the point of being a threat to democracy and the new administration.
In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, and signed by Mazi Paul Ibe, the Turaki Adamawa acknowledged that it was legitimate and desirable for individuals or groups to pursue their interests.
He, however, noted that such should be done with the spirit of equity, fair play and justice.
“Anything to the contrary may jeopardise our hard-earned democracy and constitute a clog in the wheel of the new administration,” Atiku said.
He noted that because of the historic nature of the mandate of President Buhari and the arduous challenges ahead to deliver on making Nigeria work for all Nigerians, it was important, especially for members of the APC, to rally behind him in the quest to enthrone good governance.
This, he said, would spur security and stability, economic and social development, job creation, infrastructure renewal and above all a better life for Nigerians.
The former Vice President urged members of the APC to emulate the unity of all the presidential contestants after the party’s Lagos primaries and support the President to form his government and get to work.
Abubakar exonerated himself from the purported hijack of the party and the National Assembly towards 2019 as a figment of the imagination of those promoting such insinuation.
He asked Nigerians to ignore all such insinuation.
Atiku noted that the recent outcomes of the National Assembly leadership election, contrary to insinuations were products of “interplay of politics which is itself in constant motion.”
He said, “In politics, it is a mistake to expect fixed outcomes. As the President has done, let’s all come to terms with what has happened in the interest of the system and move on.
“Suffice it to say that the new administration should be allowed to have a smooth take off and be allowed the atmosphere to deliver. On this, I stand with President Buhari.”
The Turaki Adamawa while restating his unalloyed commitment to the Buhari administration pledged to back this commitment with all of the assets at his disposal.
The statement added that, “Not only did Atiku Abubakar congratulate Buhari after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC at the party’s national convention in Lagos, he also handed over his best assets to the Buhari Presidential Campaign.
“The former Vice President enthusiastically handled the diplomatic assignment of seeking endorsement for Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank on behalf of President Buhari and would be available for any other assignments as the President pleases.
“Make no mistake about it, Atiku Abubakar holds Buhari in the highest esteem, and would always remain loyal to him, and support him in every endeavour to succeed as President.”
The APC chieftain also called on Nigerians with members of the President’s own party taking a lead in their undiluted support of his administration.
“We, the members of the President’s own family need to lead in this direction for others to follow for the good of our nation and its peoples,” he added.
Abubakar also denounced the increasing determination of some people who he said were bent on drawing a wedge between President Buhari and himself.
“It has become crystal clear even to the blind that the motives of these hatchet men who are desperate to take every available newspaper space is to insult and vilify the former Vice President.
“We cannot allow liars, denigrators and blackmailers and their sponsors to use Atiku as a platform to ingratiate themselves with President Buhari and hijack his presidency under the pretext of loving him more than anyone else.
“These political ventriloquists are hiding behind the cover of anonymity to achieve their sinister agenda of making Atiku the fall guy in the unfolding political developments.”
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