The Federal Government says the former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, cannot win by subterfuge, what he lost at the polls.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed gave the affirmation in his address at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday.
Mohammed, was reacting to recent posters on the streets of Abuja, bearing the picture of Atiku, with the inscription ”THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE RIGHT”, which surfaced across major streets in Abuja.
According to him, “ Atiku Abubakar has the right to do whatever is lawful to challenge the outcome of that election. But he cannot get through the back door what he couldn’t get through the front door. That will be a pipe dream”
The appearance of the posters according to the Minister coincides with the media report that Atiku has hired a US lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP presidential candidate
He noted that the posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what he is up to.
” Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost? Has he rescinded his decision to challenge the results of the presidential election in court, perhaps after realizing that the results he claimed to have obtained from the INEC back server are cooked? Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?,”
Mohammed further said the government is aware of the media report Atiku Abubakar used to distant himself from the posters circulating, after realizing the consequences of his actions.
“we are aware of media reports that the PDP presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that are circulating in Abuja.
He also reportedly denied hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC fabricated the report. If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice President has suddenly realized the grave implication of his actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too late.
As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts.
“Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire,”
Mohammed explained that If Atiku Abubakar believes hiring a foreign lobbying firm will advance his quest, the government wish him the best of luck, but seeking US recognition as the winner of an election that he lost by almost 4 million votes is unconscionable.
He recall, that after the result of the presidential election was announced, the U.S. joined other countries to congratulate President Buhari.
“Let me read a part of the statement by Michael Pompeo, the US Secretary of State: “We commend all those Nigerians who participated peacefully in the election and condemn those whose acts of violence harmed Nigerians and the electoral process.
“We note the assessments of international and domestic observer missions affirming the overall credibility of the election, despite localized violence and irregularities. Going forward, the United States remains committed to working together with Nigeria to achieve greater peace and prosperity for both our nations.” I think that says it all
Mohammed explained there is no doubt that the PDP presidential candidate, out of desperation, is thinking of replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria, but should realize that Nigeria is not Venezuela, and that the situations in both countries are not the same.
“President Muhammadu Buhari won the Feb. 23rd 2019 presidential elections fair and square, with a margin of 3,928,869 million votes.The election’s credibility was attested to by local and foreign observers.
He avers that President Buhari’s victory is well deserved as it represents the triumph of the ordinary Nigerians over the elite, adding that the election is a direct contest between the ordinary Nigerians and the elite, most of whom are rent seekers.
“Of course, the ordinary Nigerians have won. This is not a surprise, considering the pro-poor policy of the Administration. Despite the antics of the naysayers, Nigerians demonstrated that they appreciate the giant strides that have been made by the Administration, whether in the areas of economy, fight against corruption or in tackling insecurity.
“This is a government that has done so much with less in restoring decency and integrity to governance. Like the New York Times said, the re-election of President Buhari is a referendum on honesty. Of course you know that the policies of the administration endeared President
Buhari to the ordinary Nigerians.
He said Atiku Abubakar should realise that losing an election is not the end of the world, and should not give an impression that he has no confidence in the judiciary.
“Yes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has lost an election. But he will not be the first or the last person to lose an election, and he should realize that losing an election is not the end of the world. He has challenged the result of the election in court. That’s just as well. However, he should not give the impression that he does not have confidence in the judicial process, which is what resorting self-help implies.
He should stop overheating the polity and quit trying to instigate a political crisis in Nigeria. No citizen, no matter how highly placed, is above the laws of the land. Enough is enough,” said Mohammed.
Oyin Aminu, Abuja
