Former vice-president Atiku
Abubakar has appealed to his supporters to remain peaceful following the
postponement of the presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) announced early Saturday morning that it was moving the
elections by one week because of logistics.
Atiku, who is flying the flag of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential election, alleged that
the shift in date was the handwork of the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration, employing the biblical expression “hand of Esau, voice of
Jacob”.
He said: “As you know, the
Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the
elections until 23 February and 9 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, 16 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, 23 February and Saturday, 9 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.”
He asked his supporters to be
patient “in the face of provocation”.
Atiku also urged them to come and
vote en masse on the new dates.
“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,” he said.
“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, 23 February and Saturday, 9 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.”
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