Atiku, APC Trade Words Over Tinubu's Chicago Certificate

... Respect Rule of Law, Atiku

... You're Election Serial Loser, APC To Atiku

By Abdul SULE (Abuja) and Mark IDRAH (Calabar)

The People Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Alhji Atiku Abubakar, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are in battle of words over President Bola Tinubu's Chicago certificate.

While former VP insists that APC and it's leadership must subject themselves to rule of law in handling national and alleged criminal issues, APC has hit back calling Atiku as the most serial election loser in annals of politics.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Shehu Yar'Adua Centre, Thursday, Alhaji Atiku said Nigerians look up to them as leaders to respect the rule of law, and where necessary, to defend it.

He called on Mr. Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria's Peoples Party (NNPP) to join him enshrine probity and accountability in the country.

In his words: "Political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are ways through which we all work together to build a country that works for all who live in it. 

"Our country is bigger than any of us, and its standing in the world affects the fate of all who come from or live in it. As leaders, it is our duty to advance the well-being of all our people and of the country."

He emphasised that he is a democrat who loves his country, and that issues at stake in the case requires a rededication to self, to country and the constitution.

Paying tribute to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, who started the process that has led to his discovery 23 years after, Atiku also commended David Hundeyin, an independent and investigative journalist whose extraordinary work and those of many young people like him has become a source of inspiration.

Atiku further said: "My quest isn't for myself but for the enthronement of truth, morality and accountability in the country's public affairs.

"These are the reasons I am calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, religious leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders, political leaders and former Governors Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso who loves the country as he does to join him enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice and uprightness in Nigeria and its government."

Reacting the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a press statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary Mr. Felix Morka, Esq, APC, said Atiku's press release lacked purpose and delivered nothing but the pitiful regurgitation of lies, mindless distortions and deliberate falsehood on his infantile obsession with the academic record of Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's president.

According to the APC, "Nigerians and the world has watched with incredulity, Alhaji Abubakar's display of utter desperation in his failed bid to become the president of Nigeria.

"Atiku's desperation was put in overdrive during his press conference where he addressed some of the issues in his appeal at the supreme court and bandying unproven charges against president Bola Tinubu."

Accusing Atiku of putting up a calculative attempt to whip up public sentiment and inordinately pressure the supreme court, APC further said: "Alhaji Atiku should have known better than to demonstrate gross contempt of the highest court by making public comments on a matter that he has submitted to the court for adjudication.

"We are aware that the VP harbours deep animosity towards Tinubu, whom he believes was responsible for his electoral woes in 2007, 2015 2019 and 2023.

"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar holds the unenviable title of Nigeria's most prolific election loser and longest running presidential candidate in history, and we see his recent US fishing expedition as the last kick of a roundly rejected presidential aspirant."

"President Tinubu has undertaken to serve Nigerians and he will not be distracted by a man  has consistently failed to achieve his self-serving and brutal quest to become Nigeria's president," the party stated.