Atiku to Security Agencies: Leave politics to politicians

The two major political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – have continually engaged in war of words over allegations and counter allegations to short-change each other in next week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The APC said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other institutions with important roles to play in the election should not fall for the threat by the main opposition party.

Also, the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar said Nigerians were tired of remaining under the APC’s jackboots and warned security agencies to leave politics to politicians.

Atiku cautions

Addressing party supporters in Jalingo, Taraba state yesterday, Atiku cautioned security agencies against interfering in the political process, saying it falls outside their constitutional provisions.
The former vice president said as former security personnel himself, their (security agencies) duty is to ensure the electorate and voters were safe and the process seamless.

He said: “Our security services, you have no business to interfere with our political process that is not your work. Your work is to make sure that there is peace, law and order. It is not your business, it is not your business to interfere in our political process, this is not your constitutional responsibility at all.

“Your constitutional responsibility is to make sure that we are all safe. Any government that draws the security agencies, the Police, the Army, the Civil Defence into politics, that government is doing more harm to your career, it is doing more harm to your patriotism and more harm to yourself.”

“Don’t accept that, don’t get involved, allow us to choose the leaders we want to choose and to elect the people we want to elect, it is not your business whom we elect at all. So, I want to caution the security services not to get involved because there are many of us who are also security officers, so don’t come and tell us bullshit.”

To Taraba residents, the former vice-president said he would end insecurity which has become a major challenge in the region, complete Mambilla Hydro Power project and usher in an enabling environment for job creation.

“I want to promise you that the much awaited Mambilla Hydro Electric Power, we will complete it so that you will not have problem of power whatsoever.

“I also want to promise you, your federal roads will be taken care of. Taraba is one of the most endowed states in this country, we are going to exploit it, the natural resources which is in abundance in Taraba so that you can have prosperity, so that we can bring employment, so that we can create jobs for our teaming men and women.”

He said, more than any other time, the North-east was closest to the Presidency now than ever.

“And this is the first time since 1999 when you are going to have a president from this state; you are going to have a president from this zone. So, do you want to take it to another state, to another zone? No!!!! God bless you.”

Also in his remarks, PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus said President Buhari was planting the military on regions perceived to be against the government, stating that security agencies have the responsibility to defend the country. 

“We have issue of Boko Haram in Borno. They should tackle that issue. Buhari, don’t use the military to terrorise regions that you don’t like. Enough is enough. The Nigerian military is to defend our territory’s integrity. We shouted aloud that foreigners were entering into our country. They have no response to it because we have evidence.

“We will continue to hammer that the election must be free and fair. We will continue to address these issues until that day. We believe that when you conduct free and fair election and we elect a credible candidate that is the only way to bring peace in this country.

“We believe that anyone that wins from a free and fair process, that person will be the choice of Nigeria. But if you manipulate, if you rig this election, the PDP and others will not accept it. INEC, be warned.”

Addressing the gathering, Taraba state Governor Darius Ishaku said Atiku had the solutions to the myriad of security and unemployment challenges ravaging the region, and assured that the state would be delivered to PDP in all the elections.

‘Nigeria won’t buckle under jackboot’

Similarly, the PDP has said contrary to incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency, Nigerians won’t buckle under the administration’s jackboots.

In a statement yesterday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said there were efforts “by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry out their heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on our nation and blame it on the opposition, having realised that there is no way President Muhammadu Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

“PDP further draws the attention of the international community to the landmines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC, including the clampdown on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of INEC’s collation centre, the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centres and polling units for allocation of fictitious votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of our borders to mercenaries to participate in our electoral process.

“It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonise and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualisation of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

“The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely chose their leaders, no matter the threats.

“The PDP stands with Nigerians across the board in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general elections. This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head-to-head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.

“It is incontrovertible that Nigerians have reached a consensus in rallying behind the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in this election. Any result that does not reflect the wishes and aspiration of the people will be completely resisted.

“The PDP calls on international community to note that the consequences of such resistance in a country of over 200 million people, who have made up their minds for a new leadership, are capable of triggering huge humanitarian crisis not only in Nigeria but also in the West African sub-region.

“PDP therefore urges all institutions responsible for the general election to save our nation from collapse by working towards guaranteeing a credible, free, fair and transparent election. This is all we seek.”

APC

Dismissing all of these, APC National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu said on a daily basis, the PDP has invented one lie after the other to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

Issa-Onilu stated that the PDP’s actions were unhealthy for Nigeria’s electoral processes and a threat to maturing democracy.

He said the PDP’s game plan is simple: “Discredit the entire process before, during, and after the elections in order to make the final outcome a “nullity” in its own jaundiced eyes.

“The PDP must understand that all registered political parties are equal stakeholders in the coming elections; hence the PDP’s tired narrative that the entire election process is skewed against it should be seen for what it is – PDP’s admittance of defeat.

“The era of sham elections is behind us. The records of credible elections conducted since the APC took over the country’s governance are public knowledge compared to selections, impositions and fraudulent elections under the PDP.

“We will continue in our progressive tradition in ensuring that elections are free, peaceful credible and every vote counts — the wishes of the electorate must prevail in all elections.

“Against this backdrop, we urge INEC and other state institutions responsible for different election duties to remain firm and focused in the discharge of their legitimate roles. They must not be stampeded into taking actions that run contrary to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”

The ruling party also stated that the opposition PDP should “Concentrate its energy to resuscitate its floundering campaign, which has seen majority of its governors tacitly and openly avoid supporting the presidential bid of the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Again, in the wake of the recent Reuters report that Atiku visited the US two weeks ago thanks to heavily paid lobbyists who aided the temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals and corruption indictments, we urge Atiku to come clean to Nigerians on his problems. This is the least he owes an electorate he wishes to lead.”

INEC

Meanwhile, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu has restated his commitment to peaceful election.

He said this in Abuja while receiving Women for Peace Group seeking to promote peaceful election.

Yakubu said the commission was following gender policy that allowed women to express their feelings and assured of credible elections.

He stated that in developed countries, women were the best pedestal for credible elections and therefore applauded the group for the move to ensuring peaceful polls.

He said: “It is interesting to know that women in our society are coming out to support peace and mobilise women to vote.

“We as a commission will continue to be an equal opportunities commission, making sure that no one is left behind.

“Celebrating election is our main objective, gender mainstreaming and persons with disabilities access and participation.

“We play our own part to sensitise, but will leave the mobilisation of voters to National Orientation Agency (NOA) and others involved.”

Yakubu said women have the highest number in terms of voting, therefore, urged women to exercise their rights and vote.

He therefore assured the group that the commission was ready to partner with them toward achieving peaceful, transparent, credible and acceptable elections.

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