The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to desist from making public statements in a manner expected of a sitting president.
Speaking through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party likened Atiku’s actions to felony against the federal government.
The statement read in part, “As a party, we would have thought that Atiku, who in the past occupied such high office as the country’s vice president, would clearly understand the workings of government, particularly as it bothers on national security, foreign policy and our international engagement.
“We have noted Alhaji Atiku’s incessant habits of releasing statements on public issues as if he were an alternative President of this country and with a clear intention to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led government.
“In recent times, Atiku has demonstrated lack of regard for the sovereignty of the office of the President and Nigerian government through condescending statements. He has made several of such statements regarding the activities of the Nigerian military, issues of national security, and international relations.
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“The latest of such statements is the one he made on the emergence of Mr Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of Britain even when our duly elected President, who has the responsibility of making an official statement on such matter, has made the position of our country known.”
The APC advised Atiku to note that being a candidate for an elective office, including that of the President, did not confer on him a sovereign status.
“Atiku’s continuous portrayal of himself as a shadow President under our system borders on felony and makes him a patent impostor.
“There can only be one democratically elected and legitimate government at a time in this country. That clearly is the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is important to remind Atiku that issues of national security, foreign policy and international engagements are not matters to be exploited to achieve mischievous political ends.”