ATIKU ABUBAKAR KEEPS DIMINISHING OWN STATUS

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar this evening tweeted the absurd: he warned security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists who masqueraded as protesters. As a statesman, his warning ought to be to the looting mob in Kaduna,Kano, Plateau, Jigawa states, who hijacked what was advertised by organizers as a peaceful protest.

Our security forces have remained professional, even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters. We are surprised that Alhaji Atiku is still relying on Section 40 of our constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that is now clearly a riot, a rampage in some parts of the country. Section 45 of the constitution says the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute. They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order. The Service Chiefs reiterated the rights of Nigerians to protest and gather freely. They, however, reinforced their constitutional duty, today, when they said they can not sit by idly and watch hoodlums destroy the country and its democracy.

The Service Chiefs and the officers and men of our security outfits should be commended for their patriotic duty to our country.

As a supporter and enabler of the destructive 'protests', Alhaji Atiku certainly wants the sinister protest to continue despite the red signals from the streets. A tweet that condones the destruction of private and public property and investments of citizens is unbecoming of a former vice president of Nigeria.

Alhaji Atiku ought to have risen above the sentiment he expressed and put the interest of our country’s stability ahead of whatever advantages he hoped to reap from the insurrection on our streets.

We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in United Kingdom who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in UK, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the wanton destruction of public and private assets. Such nationalistic temperament as displayed by opposition figures like Rishi Sunak, the immediate-past Prime Minister of UK is expected of Alhaji Atiku.

professorPABX:


Atiku is talking like an illiterate. Is this the type of person that wants to rule Nigeria?

The Military has constitutional duties in Peace time, during crisis and during external aggression.

Protest is different from riots. During riots, if the Military is invited by Police, the Military will use Force on dissidents and rioters.

I understood he felt cheated. He started his Presidential ambition since 1992. At the Jos Convention of SDP, in a keenly contested Primary election, there was no clear winner at the first primary because ABIOLA won with a margin less than 400 to defeat Kingibe. He stepped down for MKO ABIOLA. As a very young man, I heard it during discussion. When I grew up, I observed despite his stepping down, the election between Kingibe and ABIOLA showed that his delegates were shared by both ABIOLA and Kingibe.

People are talking about Emilokan, the fact remains that Atiku believed by political seniority, he is senior to Tinubu and that his presidency is given to Tinubu.

ATIKU should understand that Paul Ibe, his PA is not working for him and he is not working with him. He is working for Peter OBI.

As an elder statesman, he should think deep before making any public statement.

emkz:
Good idea.

It is his constitutional right.

Atiku has taken the record for the greatest number of presidential runs.

In 2023, he had the best shot in his life for the position. He had to be defeated to realize that division can be calamitous.

Unlike the other one, Atiku knew he lost. Because he knew this, he went to Chicago State University to prove an unfounded allegation that Tinubu never graduated from there. When he realized Tinubu graduated, he tried to prove Tinubu forged a certificate. When he realized that the Registrar of the University said they don't handle replacement certificate, Atiku took his deposition and brought it to the Supreme Court.

No US court stamped it, no US agency notarized it, no US Embassy authenticated it.
Atiku knew his deposition was inadmissible.

If he believed he won, why didn't he present his polling unit agents results from the field? If he believed the election wasn't free and fair, why didn't he publish cases of irregularities?

Atiku and the other one tried to plunge Nigeria into a constitutional crisis because they lost. They are not leadership materials. However, they stand a chance if Tinubu fails.

As for Atiku, if you ever want to run again, you must avoid the following persons:

1. Dino Melaye: this is the guy you allowed to lead your campaign. He is not mature for such responsibilities.

2. Phrank Shaibu: This one spent time attacking Tinubu instead of convincing voters about your programmes. He also defended the failure of your media team to do the proper work. He misadvised you to grant two press conferences that did not cover you in glory.

3. Daniel Bwala: This one has visited the person who defeated you more than three times in 5 months. He seems to already avoid you. Either he was a mole in your campaign or never believed in you.

4. Don Pedro Obaseki: He was your head of research and ought to have been aware and properly advised you that the Chicago route was a calamity for you. The premise that Tinubu never graduated was wrong. When you realized he graduated, you shifted to certificate forgery, which ended up being punctured. He failed to guide you properly.

5. Paul Ibe: This one only became visible after you lost.

6. David Hundeyin: This one was discredited over matters of sexism and fraud by Oxford University. He released stories on Tinubu that were based on speculations and sold them to you. He scammed you.

7. Dele Momodu: Wike referred to him as a professional buttlicker.

8. Timi Frank: In 2022, this one lied that Tinubu did not graduate from Chicago. He claimed EFCC and FBI had a letter stating so. No one saw the letter and no one knew if he was high when he said this.

9. Nduka Obaigbena: This one could not come out openly to use his media houses to endorse you.

Others are: Peter Obi (he cost you the election) and Ifeanyi Okowa (he was not as enthusiastic as you in your desperation post-election).

I cannot add Reno Omokri, because you never gave him a role in your campaign. I suspect he tweeted the condemnation of the lynching of Deborah Samuel Yakubu on your behalf on Twitter. You deleted the tweet and pushed him away.

Reno believed in you more than the others who scammed you of your money.

emkz:
Earlier, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) issued a diatribe against the military which he shared on his verified Twitter handle and Facebook and published here:

https://www.nairaland.com/8177447/atiku-service-chiefs-dont-use

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, issued a right of reply which

Philipponzaghi:
Atiku don dey show himself again. Instead of calming the storm, he dey fan am. Na him be the real instigator wey no fit see beyond his nose. This one no be leadership, na wahala he dey promote!

emkz:
I read Atiku's submission and extracted the following:

(1) Atiku never condemned insurrectionists who waved the Russian flag.

(2) Atiku never dissociated himself from those who asked for regime change and asked Tinubu to resign and hand over to Atiku.

(3) Atiku was speaking tongue-in-cheek against the violent protesters. The fact is that the majority were rioting in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa.

(4) Atiku issued a subtle threat against the military and said they'd be brought to book. Atiku Abubakar, no sensible commander in chief openly censures his troops. If the troops mess up, he takes the fall. Atiku also called on UN and ICC to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and hold the leadership and security accountable. Time and time again, Atiku proves why he is unfit to lead any country. You don't undermine your own country like that.

(5) Atiku has not commiserated with the families of the dead and has not even visited to pretend to show concern.

(6) Atiku has not joined the rioters to show solidarity.

Someone made a comment about Atiku on his statement reproduced as follows:



Former Vice President Atiku, I highlighted Paul Ibe from professorPABX's submission because you'd recall on your birthday November last year and in May this year, I suggested to you as follows:



I had to reproduce this to remind you that what I said earlier about some of these people are now seen by others. These people need to guide you properly. Your media appearances and some of your tweets have only shown you as desperate.

You had no business threatening our armed forces. That was taking buffoonery too far.

olaiya2007:
He didn't condemn the violent protest, looting & destruction of properties but quick to condemn the military

RepoMan007:
Attack dog Onanuga should maintain some silence. First Obi and now Atiku.

vanbonattel:
Notice that Bayo Onanuga is addressing Atiku with too much respect, or is it fear?

SmartPolician:


Agbadorians are always scared of the Muslim North...