The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) warned the presidency to stop peddling lies against its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The PPCO alleged that the former vice president was absorbed of all allegations by the chairman of Buhari’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay and the United States Department of Justice after a thorough investigation was conducted on him.
Vanguard reports that in a statement titled ‘Buhari’s Corruption Attack on Atiku Is an Illusion’ by the PPCO director of media and publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party argued that even President Buhari who has been in office for three and half years has never found anything incriminatory on Atiku.
“Perhaps, Mr President needs to be reminded that even the Chairman of his Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, after their detailed scrutiny, announced that they found no evidence of corruption against Atiku Abubakar and consequently absolved him of all allegations.
“Furthermore, the United States Department of Justice had, in response to enquiry by a leading Nigerian newspaper in November of 2016, stated that, after scrutiny of public records, that there is no criminal case against Atiku Abubakar contrary to fabrications being promoted by the Buhari presidency,” the statement reads in part.
The party, however, advised the presidency to utilize the campaign period to marshal out Buhari’s achievements since 2015 rather than spreading corruption rumours against Atiku.
“The PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s desperate corruption attack on its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a mere illusion. It is however unfortunate that President Buhari will resort to sponsoring fabrications and false allegations against Atiku Abubakar just because he is overwhelmed by Atiku’s soaring popularity and acceptance by Nigerians as their next president, come 2019,” the statement continued.
The campaign organisation further alleged that President Buhari had once praised “Atiku Abubakar’s immense business acumen, through which he provided employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians, (and) described him as an “inspiration” and a man that has rendered ‘great service to Nigeria’.”
The PPCO further claimed that the corruption allegation against Atiku is “designed to divert attention from the main issue of President Buhari’s woeful failure and the corruption in his presidency.”
“The PDP presidential campaign organization is aware that all the shenanigans being employed by the Buhari Presidency are designed to divert attention from the main issue of President Buhari’s woeful failure and the corruption in his presidency.
“Finally, the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, however, refuses to be distracted from the referendum of the 2019 general election which is on the hunger, deprivation, insecurity, killings and bloodletting that have become the hallmark of the Buhari administration. President Buhari must account for these sufferings because come February 16, 2019 Nigerians will register their protest against President Buhari’s misrule by casting their votes enmasse for Atiku Abubakar,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, we previously reported that President Buhari had been endorsed for the 2019 presidential election by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The group’s national president, Muhammadu Kirowa, made the announcement at its 2018 annual general meeting.
The association previously said it had not yet decided who to support between Buhari and Atiku. Both men are Fulani even though Atiku is from Adamawa and Buhari is from Katsina.
According to Kirowa, the group decided to unanimously endorse Buhari because of the “numerous achievements recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructural development, youth employment and security.”
