.How I used the legislature to truncate Obasanjo’s 3rd term agenda – Atiku
Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges security agencies to beef up security around the offices and facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from any attacks by the sinking All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP’s position is coming against the background of apprehensions in the public space of alleged plots by certain APC interests to launch a coordinated attack on INEC offices and facilities in various parts of the country with the objective of destroying the Commission’s BVAS machines so as to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in a statement said, “It would be recalled that our Party had earlier alerted of series of designs by some frustrated and violence-inclined APC governors and the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign to cause widespread crisis, truncate the elections, subvert our democracy and impose an undemocratic situation on our country, just because the APC has been rejected by Nigerians.
“Credible information available to our Party indicates that the said APC interests which are bent at scuttling the elections to avoid a humiliating defeat are allegedly mobilizing thugs to launch fresh attacks on INEC offices and its facilities where BVAS machines are located.
“Some prominent APC leaders including certain APC governors, having failed in their designs to have the elections postponed and having also been resisted in their plot to use their orchestrated cash scarcity to destabilize the nation, are now allegedly plotting to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections by destroying the BVAS machines.
“These APC leaders and their apologists have evidently revealed themselves as clear and present threat not only to the electoral process but also to our corporate existence as a nation and must be resisted by all.
“The PDP therefore charges the security agencies to take all necessary steps to provide adequate protection for INEC facilities, equipment and personnel before, during and after the elections.
“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put all measures in place for free, fair, transparent and credible elections in keeping with his assurances to Nigerians and the International Community.
“The PDP urges Nigerians to remain vigilant in resisting the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign in their vicious plot to cause crisis, derail our democracy and force an unconstitutional situation of Interim National Government on our nation.
“The APC and the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign must accept the fact that Nigerians will never be deterred from their resolve to vote in the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to rebuild our nation from the disastrous misrule of the APC.”
In another development, The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that his very intimate relationship with members of the National Assembly led to the truncation of a third term or life presidency attempt by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The former Vice President also said that such synergy would be required under his administration to achieve his new covenant with the people of Nigeria in his commitment to saving the country from its present predicament.
Emerging from a meeting with National Assembly candidates of the PDP in Abuja on Sunday night, 19th February 2023, said they are committed to advancing people’s well-being and the country’s development.
Atiku and the candidates pledged to work together to improve accountability and transparency across government levels.
A Communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT, stated: “We commit to improving transparency and accountability across the whole government.
“We commit to the reduction of the cost of government through improving citizen oversight and a strong emphasis on curbing waste and cost reduction
“We commit to reducing multidimensional poverty by 40% over the next 4 years and putting food on the tables of Nigerians again.
“We commit to reducing our unsustainable national debts. We commit to greater investment in education and infrastructure by incrementally increasing budgetary allocation starting from the next budget.”
“We commit to quick passage of bills that devolve more powers to subnational governments. We commit to securing Nigerians through robust conflict resolution mechanisms and improved welfare and funding of security agencies.”
In his opening remarks at the meeting, the PDP flag bearer promised a robust engagement with the lawmakers if elected president, recalling that it was that kind of relationship he had with the National Assembly as vice president that enabled the legislature to foil the third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Addressing the candidates, Atiku said: “A lot has been said about your role.
Those of you who are members of the National Assembly have been performing your roles. But let me say that it is very important as members of the same party to have a robust engagement and understanding in our respective duties.
“During my tenure as vice president, I developed a very intimate relationship with members of the National Assembly and it is that relationship that enabled us to stop a third term or life presidency attempt by President Obasanjo.
“I really look forward to engaging you again, as regards to the National Assembly, for your constitutional functions to further deepen democracy, development, and progress of our nation.
“Our nation has found itself in one of the most challenging times in the history of this country.
“You know that we are more divided than ever before, because of the activities and the policies of the current APC government.
“Likewise, our security situation has gone from bad to worse. Our economy is in shambles. These are very serious challenges facing us, you in particular, and also the executive.
“We must work together to take out the country from its present predicament and malaise. These are no main challenges. These are challenges that the Constitution has bestowed on both of us to discharge.
“I, therefore, want to wish you success in this deliberation and to assure you the most important thing if you’re elected and I’m elected, you are not going to work with somebody unknown or somebody who doesn’t have the experience.
“Like what we have currently today, we have a president who doesn’t even understand what the National Assembly stands for. So, you’re going to walk with somebody who has worked with the National Assembly before and successfully too, facing the incumbent president and still making sure that we protected the constitution.”
