APC accuses Atiku of felony

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of felony, saying the PDP presidential candidate has been carrying himself as an alternative President.

The party reminded the former Vice President that the constitution is clear on how to deal with criminalities, stressing that the Muhammadu Buhari administration will not be found wanting where it is required to take decisive actions.

APC National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa Onilu said, in a statement yesterday, Atiku had been making statements reserved for sitting Presidents or his appointed representatives on matters of national security and foreign policies.

The APC also reminded him that the constitution does not provide for a parliamentary system of government where you have a parliamentary, but a presidential system where there can be only one President.

Atiku was told that he has since lost the 2019/presidential election and should face reality.

The statement reads: ‘The All Progressives Congress (APC) strongly condemns the 2019 presidential candidate of the oppositions Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has now made it a pastime to make public statements on issues, which constitutionally should be reserved for the duly elected head of government or his designees.

“As a Party, we would have thought that Alh. Atiku who in the past occupied such high office as the country’s vice president would clearly understand the workings of government, particularly as it bothers on national security, foreign policy and our international engagement.

“We have noted Alh. Atiku’s incessant habits of releasing statements on public issues as if he were an alternative President of this country and with a clear intention to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led government.

“In recent times, Alh. Atiku has demonstrated lack of regard for the sovereignty of the office of the President and Nigerian government through condescending statements. He has made several of such statements regarding the activities of the Nigerian military, issues of national security, and international relations.

“The latest of such statements is the one he made on the emergence of Mr. Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of Britain even when our duly elected President, who has the responsibility of making an official statement on such matter, has made the position of our country known.

“We note with serious concern that Alh. Atiku has been throwing himself around as a shadow President of Nigeria. We would like to state clearly that such position could only be found under the parliamentary system. It does not exist under the Presidential system of government that we practise in Nigeria.

“Alh. Atiku, like every Nigerian citizen, should understand that being a candidate for an elective office, including that of the President, does not confer on him a sovereign status. Alh. Atiku’s continuous portrayal of himself as a shadow President under our system borders on felony and makes him a patent impostor.

“There can only be one democratically elected and legitimate government at a time in this country. That clearly is the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is important to remind Alh. Atiku that issues of national security, foreign policy and international engagements are not matters to be exploited to achieve mischievous political ends.”

An aide to Atiku on media, who craved anonymity, berated the ruling party.

The aide said: “It is a reckless and an unguarded statement to make in a democracy where there is freedom of association and of speech. It is unimaginable that people in government and members of the ruling party will be talking of repressing someone is expressing his private opinion.

“That is the character of the APC. The party lacks respect for the rule of law.”