Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday squared up over the conduct of the presidential primaries that produced the latter.
Lawal, yesterday announced his resignation from ADC, accusing Atiku of rigging the primary election.
In a statement, the former SGF said the primaries were “massively rigged” in favour of Atiku and his allies.
Lawal said, “I am leaving the ADC because its recent primaries were massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku at all levels.
“I sense the conspiracy of silence in which I want no part. Most of the party members are behaving as if this is what they should be doing.
“Results were written or rewritten to favour him and his coven.
“Even where they allowed some kind of election to be held, the new winners were just substituted by members of his syndicate.
“In the real sense it was a shameful charade.”
Responding, Atiku described Lawal as a notorious conflict entrepreneur who was entitled to his political views and decisions.
In a statement in Abuja, the Atiku Media office explained that though Lawal had the right to resign from ADC, political parties being voluntary associations of people, the former ADC chieftain was not entitled to cast aspersions on Atiku based on fabricated allegations.
The statement said one of the laziest and most ridiculous lies that someone can spread against the former vice president is accusing Atiku of religious bigotry or nepotism.
In the statement, Atiku was described as one of the most liberal politicians in Nigeria, and his record in that regard was there for anyone to verify.
The statement said, “We are of the opinion that Babachir was describing his own character and not that of Atiku. The former SGF seeks power on the altar of dividing the people on the basis of primordial sentiments.
“All his quarrels with people are due to his selfishness. He panders to sentiments opportunistically for his ambition. “None of his struggles are informed by the larger interests of his people or Nigeria.”
Lawal was not qualified to speak on what was good for Nigeria, the statement said.
It stated, “When Babachir said he resigned from ADC because of the so-called rigging or manipulations during the primaries, he did not tender any proof of his allegations.
“Instead of providing evidence for his claims, he went further to bring Atiku’s family into the matter that was not related to the primaries.
“It is clear from the amount of garbage the former SGF has published that he has personal bitterness against Atiku Abubakar.”
The statement asked Lawal to look inward and desist from dividing and bigotry among Nigerians for his personal gains.
“There is no such thing as a Muslim and Christian party in Nigeria,” Atiku media office said. When the results of a competition are not in your favour, you should file a petition with the party to prove manipulations or rigging. But it is most irresponsible for a former SGF to become an agent of division.
In another statement from Atiku’s camp, they also took on Lawal over his outburst against Atiku.
The statement condemned the former SGF for his criticism of ADC’s presidential primary, accusing him of making unsubstantiated allegations and trying to discredit a democratic process he could not influence.
Lawal, announcing his resignation from the party yesterday, had accused Atiku of influencing the outcome of the party’s primaries held across the country.
The former SGF, who cast doubts on the credibility of the exercise, said the process was compromised.
But the Atiku camp, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused Lawal of attempting to denigrate the party and its members without any evidence.
“The decision to impugn a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members across the country, and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence made it necessary to set the record straight,” the statement said.
Shaibu debunked claims of manipulation of the ADC presidential primary, saying the exercise was the will of party members across the country.
He said Lawal did not present any evidence to back up his claims of electoral manipulation.
“The truth is simple. The ADC presidential primaries were conducted in thousands of wards and yielded a clear and decisive outcome. What Mr. Lawal presented to the people of Nigeria is not proof.
“He has not presented any documents, any verifiable facts, any credible witnesses and no evidence whatsoever to support his sensational allegations.”
Wike: Atiku, Obi are hypocrites who cannot offer better democratic alternatives
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has attacked the presidential candidates of the ADC, Atiku and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, describing them as hypocrites, who have no better democratic alternatives to offer to Nigeria.
Wike launched the verbal onslaught yesterday at his monthly media briefing in Abuja.
The criticisms that erupted over the recent primaries of the opposition parties, he said, exposed the contradictions between their public posturing and internal practices.
He said the controversies that trailed the congresses had undermined claims that the opposition parties offered a credible alternative to the country’s established political parties.
He said that parties and politicians who have been accusing the ruling party of sabotaging democracy were now being accused by their own party of the same.
“They said that they are the saviours, who will come and rescue Nigeria. Wike said Now what happened? They told Nigerians that they were the new face of democracy and the alternative platform for change.
“But what we have seen is that even within their own structures there are allegations of irregularities and protests over congresses and primaries.
The minister said the developments had revealed attempts to fool Nigerians with claims of moral superiority.
“Nigerians now know they are all liars. “They can’t keep fooling the people,” he added.
Wike reasoned that the developments should spur Nigerians to critically assess political actors based on their conduct and not campaign rhetoric.
He took a swipe at Obi, saying he is avoiding struggle and only likes a politics of ready food.
“In Nigeria, you have to be able to confront challenges and not run at the first sight of trouble. “The worst kind of leader is someone who sees the problem but is unable to make decisions to fix it,” he said.
The minister has insisted that there was no law stopping him from owning a house in the United States in reaction to an allegation by activist, Omoyele Sowore.
Wike warned Sowore against peddling rumors against government officials.
“So, Sowore will come and sell you all kinds of stories. Why has he not discussed the houses he claims I have in Florida until now? Where is it till today ? These are the kind of people you call human rights activists.
“You can’t start to spread rumours against government officials, it is not right. There is no law saying I should not own a house at all. But I don’t have a house there.”
Wike also dismissed the endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of former President Goodluck Jonathan, maintaining that one who has not indicated to contest an office or accepted the nomination cannot be picked.
Wike said the only recognised presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 election is Senator Sandy Onor.
He called on the police to arrest those projecting the candidacy of Jonathan and causing problem in the political.
“In Nigerian politics, a candidate is not known by mere body language,” Wike said. A candidate is a person who has contested an election and has won and the results are declared with a certificate of return issued.
“It is wrong to project Jonathan as presidential candidate when he has not spoken on the matter himself. I will not allow any breach of peace in FCT.”
Wike said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised only the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja and not anybody’s private office or bedroom, saying the party’s official decisions can only emanate from its recognised organs and headquarters.
