Atiku seeks Obi, Kwankwaso’s support in removing Tinubu

By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of Peoples Democrat Party (PDP) in the 2023 Presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his counterpart from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) , Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join him
in his campaign on ensuring probity and accountability in the country.
Atiku made the call at a world press conference he addressed Thursday, October, 5 at the Shehu Yar’Adua Center, Abuja.
Speaking on the controversies surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Chicago State University Certificate, Atiku said “I am calling on all well meanIng Nigerian leaders of thought , our religious leaders, traditional rulers , our community leaders, political leaders and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and the leaders of every political party in Nigeria and indeed, every single person who loves the country to
join me in ensuring that the right things are done and rule of law respected.
“I expect everyone to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality and uprightness in our country and in our government. This is a task for each and every one of us”, he stressed
Atiku (GCON), Waziri Adamawa, who was Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) said he decided to address the press on the certificate saga because he considers it important to address and
report to Nigerians on issues that define the future of elective government and legitimate leadership in the country.
“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 it’s 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 our people and of the country.
“For this purpose, my generation worked hard to return the soldiers to the barracks and to institute a legitimate government. Our elections are established and governed by law and founded on the constitution from which leadership and government in Nigeria derive their legitimacy.
“The people look up to us as leaders to respect these rules and where necessary to defend them. This is what brought us here,” he said
According to him, “we are called upon again as a people to uphold and defend the rules of elective government in our country. The constitution prescribes the requirement for those who seek the
highest elective office in the land.
“It should not take months or indeed decades for the institutions concerned to be able to do their work in establishing the credibility of any certificates presented by candidates for public office.
“We undertook this journey at great cost and for important reasons. The ground rules for legitimate governance in our country need to be upheld, and the reputation of our country is at stake and it affects every Nigerian.
“I am a democrat by conviction and a citizen of a country that I love. The issues at stake in this is to defend the right of the people to dedicate ourselves to both the country and our
constitution.
“Now, we entrust these facts to us all as citizens and as leaders of the institutions charged with interpreting
our constitution. I should thank the Lawyers both in Nigeria and in the United States who have assisted us in bringing clarity and definitive answers to these issues that appear to have
defied our institutions for nearly
a quarter of a century.
“I also want to extend my gratitude to Nigerian citizens and friends of Nigeria both within and beyond the shores of this country for their patience as we sought to find the facts and establish the truth,” he said.
He paid glowing tributes to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani
Fawehinmi, (SAN), whom he said inspired them on this path of discovery.
“Now, he can truly rest in peace in the
assurance that what he started about 23 years ago has come to fruition
“Gani’s vindication today gives credence to the saying that no matter how fast a lie runs, the truth will
someday overtake it.
Former American President Thomas Jefferson once said, “If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter”. From exposing the Watergate scandal and unravelling the dubious certificates of politicians, journalists have maintained eternal vigilance by bridging the gap and stepping in when other arms of government failed.
It is for these reasons that commendation must be given to David Hundeyin, an independent journalist whose extraordinary work and those of many more young people like him has become a source of inspiration.
Special thanks must be given to the millions of Nigerian youths and citizen journalists too who continue to put out the truth online even when no one is listening. Indeed, the price of Liberty is eternal vigilance.
“They have put the country first in their firm commitment to unravel the truth and hold leaders accountable. This gives me the hope that we have worthy partners in the struggle to reclaim the country we call home”, he concluded