THISDAY

Don’t Compromise Standards, Atiku Tells Security Chiefs

Stop destroying institutio­ns, Secondus warn Buhari, APC

- Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The presidenti­al standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, yesterday admonished heads of security agencies in the country not to allow the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) use them as agents to rig the forthcomin­g elections.

Atiku, who stated this at the Katsina State Sports Stadium when his campaign train arrived in the state, accused the APC government of planning to manipulate the outcome of the polls through security agencies, saying he would reject any “rigged result” after the elections.

“I want to advise the security chiefs, including the Nigeria army, to avoid any attempts by APC administra­tion to use them as agents to rig the result of the general election. PDP as party will reject rigged results,” he said.

He reiterated his doggedness to improve the economic status of the country, adding that security, improved healthcare system and employment generation would remain his priorities if given the mandate to govern Nigeria.

The PDP presidenti­al candidate, however, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has failed to address the challenges of insecurity and unemployme­nt facing the country after three and half years in office.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said negative reactions of Nigerians to the ‘Next Level’ mantra of Buhari have shown that the document was dead on arrival.

He pointed out that the president failed to articulate any solutions or clear policy direction in his “procured and pedestrian ‘Next Level’ document.”

According to Secondus, “APC has brought hunger, unemployme­nt and insecurity to the country. They want to kill internatio­nal observers and PDP members. We must refute the leadership of APC in Nigeria.”

Secondus also warned President Buhari and APC to stop destroying institutio­ns of the state just because it’s being rejected by Nigerians and wants to manipulate the electoral process.

The PDP leader cried out that APC in its desperatio­n and confusion is destroying institutio­ns like Police and the military by intervenin­g on their day-to-day running, including determinin­g posting of officers.

His warning came as he addressed large crowd of party supporters who thronged the Katsina State Sports Stadium, the home state of President Buhari, to behold Atiku campaign train.

Secondus reiterated his earlier position that PDP and its supporters will not accept the result of election not derived from the votes of the Nigerian people.

He told the jubilant supporters who shouted Atiku! Atiku! That their large turnout showed clearly that their son, the president, failed them, pointing out that hunger and poverty recognise nobody.

“What President Buhari and his party bequeathed the people of Katsina State and Nigeria in the last three and half years is nothing but hunger and unemployme­nt,” he stated.

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