The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has asked Nigerians to remain peaceful in the face of provocation.

Atiku said this in a statement he personally signed in the early hours of Saturday while reacting to the shift in the dates for the conduct of the general elections as announced by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Atiku signed the statement which he addressed to Nigerians from Yola, Adamawa State where he had gone to cast his vote.

The former vice-president said that it was unfortunate that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari failed to utilise the time it had to organise the elections.

He likened the actions of the commission to the Biblical hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.

He said, “As you know, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the elections until 23 February and 9 March respectively.

“The Buhari administration has had more than enough time and money to prepare for these elections and the Nigerian people were poised and ready to perform their civic responsibility by voting in the elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, 16 February, 2019.

“This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement, the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date. Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively.

“Knowing that the Nigerian people are determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people.

“Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts.

As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes.”

Atiku asked Nigerians to maintain the peace and still endure to come out to vote on the new dates.

He said, “Maintain the peace and be law abiding. Do not react to this provocation with anger, violence or any action that might be exploited by those who do not want this election to hold. Remain calm. We will overcome this. You can postpone an election, but you cannot postpone destiny.

“Please come out to vote on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively. Frustrate those who do not want this election to hold by coming out in very large numbers. That is the best antidote to their plans.

“May God bless you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Source:https://punchng.com/breaking-election-postponement-remain-peaceful-in-face-of-provocation-atiku-tells-nigerians
cc

Ok sir, we are with you

Hmm..

Nice one Waziri

On this I appreciate you

You sound like an elder statesman

Nigeria supreme

Buhari is a disgrace!

Election budget this year was the biggest in the history of Nigeria, yet they couldn't deliver.

The worst thing was that the election was cancelled on the election day.

I weak for this country!

Presidential statement by the incoming president of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

In clear terms I am disappointed in the Apc led government

Inec is a big shame. very useless people

They only did as they were told

APC need more time to perfect their rigging plan.

sarrki:
In clear terms I am disappointed in the Apc led government

It happened just so so late .
No one saw it coming!
Not nice at all.
Just as we complained about it in 2015!
Same sh#t happening in 2019 again.
Why would the government that came in after that disastrous melodrama repeat the same nonsense?
Not acceptable.

Now PDP and APC are rejecting the postponement.
Drama EVERYWHERE!
https://www.nairaland.com/5026445/secondus-says-pdp-rejects-shift

https://www.nairaland.com/5026489/apc-presidential-campaign-council-rejects

Larryndelaw:
Can these idiot just be quiet for once?
Was he not alive when Jonathan postpone 2015 election.

You have a point here too, that is why INEC shouldn't have repeated that again in 2019!

After bombing pdp stronghold, writing election results and sabotaging our votes.


PDP now has time to collect more PVC, fix errors and plan ahead

They shifted the election because they've been blocked by international and local forces... #noRoomForRigging

Only fools believe buhari can win this élection without serious rigging.

Yes there are zombies in nigeria but thier number will be too minor to give buhari victory, this is Atiku's time and nothing can change it!

Peterpanny:
APC need more time to perfect their rigging plan.

nah

Olukologia24592:
They shifted the election because they've been blocked by international and local forces... #noRoomForRigging

you are too smart

sarrki:
In clear terms I am disappointed in the Apc led government

hope Iam not dreaming?

Asiri ti tu.INEC have lost a great opportunity to write its name in gold.

The president in quote talking....

Nigeria na scam

What will be will be

babepink:
hope Iam not dreaming?

No, you are not!
It's not acceptable at all.
Disappointed with INEC.

#PissedOff

Election postponed!! This has got to be the most annoying and infuriating thing I've heard in a long time, though nothing hardly surprises me again in this country, but this definitely did.

I personally don't think there's good enough reason for this show of shame and crass incompetence on supposed ELECTION DAY from INEC!! I still can't believe this... Very disappointing.

Oga! Please I hope this disappointment is in your favour cos it's already a blessing.. atikuobi the best is already here.

These guys don fully cast us

Shame on APC. Again?? Shame on APC led government

They plan for this election for good 4years. Logistic is now the excuses.

I weep for the idiots still supporting this admin. Was this not one of the reasons we voted out GEJ. Cluelessness we called. What do we call this one now.


I give up already

After travelling miles just to vote. Now the question on my mind is should i go back to my place of residence? If i go back will i be able to come back here to cast my vote? Dis whole thing is messed up. I have spent not less dan 25k so far just to cast my vote. So pained ryt nw.
Modified:
Plenty ppl have been saying pls stay where u r, I left kigali last week friday went dere for a work arrived Abj on monday, went down to Rivers State on Wednesday. So i'll now stay here for extra 10days, wat of my job? Both Inec, Buhari, ApC, PDP r all mad. Im so not happy.

This election wey den postpone ehhh dy vex me

Nice one from waziri

Buhari will lose some of his die-hard supporters because of this.

What incompetence!

Peaceful man. The in coming president.