Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Buhari Campaign Council have warned the government against postponing the February 14 and 28 elections, saying they should be allowed to go ahead as scheduled.
Atiku said there was enough time for the distribution of the permanent voter cards, adding: “Yes, we have a problem with the distribution of PVCs but the position of my party, the APC, is that since we have a voter register then that should be used in conducting the elections. I also believe there is enough time between now and the elections to issue everyone with their PVCs.”
The former Vice President, who arrived yesterday from overseas medical trip, said the call by the National Security Adviser (NSA), for a postponement of the election portended a dangerous signal about the intentions of the Federal Government to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Saying he was “strong, healthy and happy” to be back to lend his support to the “wind of change” sweeping across the country, Atiku said: “The duty of participating in the process of change, which our great party, the APC, is committed to supersedes every other consideration. For me, participating in this campaign is a call to national duty.
“It is a duty which we cannot afford to compromise upon and we must press into the consciousness of those at the helm of affairs that it is morally dubious and socially unacceptable to extend the dates of the elections by a single day from the scheduled timelines”.
The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, that such a proposal as being contemplated is ill-advised.
“We smelt the plot that this unpopular PDP Federal Government would do anything to stay put in power, elongation of term has always been on the President’s agenda; no wonder he and his party want the election delayed or cancelled outright to effect an extension of their lacklustre administration.
”Gone are the days when a few persons can hold the destiny of our dear nation to ransom. In fact, Nigerians would have called for an early election than February, if our political system is parliamentary.
“For Jonathan’s government is worse than a rotten egg. It’s smelly, full of sleaze, neck deep in corruption and uncaring. Two vital organs of government have downed tools for nearly two months – the health and judicial sectors – and he does not give a damn!
“The nation’s currency (naira) is daily plummeting in value, the oil sector in virtual comatose, the economy runs on deficit, unemployment skyrocketing, insecurity on the loose, decaying infrastructure and a loss of sound national image. Nigerians have never had it so bad.
“Hence, any delay or postponement of the elections amounts to testing the patience of the people. We are all tired of a corrupt government, one full of ineptitude, incompetence and lack of ideas. Nobody can scuttle our hard-earned democracy in Nigeria.”
The Organisation also said that it preferred to engage the PDP campaign spokesman, Femi Fani Kayode, on issues that have the potential to bring the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians.
It said that said it was laughable the PDP would not let-go of the educational qualifications of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, even when the matter has been laid to rest.
“It is not our desire in the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation to join an individual who has a record of talking to please the moment on any petty issue. At some point in the recent past, it was convenient for Fani-Kayode to say this of the APC and its leaders: ‘What Nigerians need now is to join hands with the APC leaders, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to move the nation forward.’ Today, a Fani-Kayode sees no desecration in recanting that same position, just to satisfy his convenience.”
