PDP’s Atiku Shocks President Buhari, Shakes INEC, Calls for Nationwide Peace and Calm
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to be calm and patient in the face of provocation, over the postponement of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
In a statement personally signed by the former Vice President, on Saturday morning, he likened the postponement of the elections to the ‘hand of Esau, but the voice of Jacob’.
The statement reads in full:
As you know, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the elections, until 23rd February and 9th 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, 16th 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, 23rd February and Saturday, 9th 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. 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, 23rd February, and Saturday, 9th 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.
Atiku Abubkar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party & Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007.
