Atiku warns over danger of opposition within APC

Former Vice President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that it is dangerous for any individual or group in the ruling party to constitute themselves into an opposition even before the constitution of President Muhammadu  Buhari's cabinet.

According to a statement signed  from his Abuja media office by Mazi Paul Ibe , the chieftain advised that personal interest should not be allowed pose a threat to the new administration and democracy, saying the groups should take the sustenance of the nation's democracy into consideration.

The statement quoted Atiku as saying that: "Anything to the contrary may jeopardise our hard-earned democracy and constitute a clog in the wheel of the new administration."

He added that following the challenge of building a functional Nigeria that is ahead of Mr. President, he needs the support for good governance that could culminate in a better life for Nigerians.

The former Vice President asked his members to emulate the unity of all the presidential contestants after the party's primary election in Lagos and support the President to form his government and get to work in earnest.

The statement described the insinuation that  Atiku Abubakar has hijacked the party and National Assembly in preparation for 2019 elections as a figment of imagination by the peddlers.

He urged Nigerians to ignore such insinuation.

 The statement reads in part:  "He notes that  the recent outcomes of the National Assembly election contrary to insinuations are products of interplay of politics which is itself in constant motion.

"In politics, it is a mistake to expect fixed outcomes. As the President has done, let's all come to terms with what has happened in the interest of the system and move on.

Suffice it to say that the new administration should be allowed a smooth take off and be allowed the atmosphere to deliver. On this, I stand with President Buhari," Atiku said.

"The Turaki Adamawa while restating his unalloyed commitment to the Buhari administration pledged to back this commitment with all of the assets at his disposal.

"Not only did Atiku Abubakar congratulate Buhari after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC at the party’s national convention in Lagos, he also handed over his best assets to the Buhari Presidential Campaign. The former Vice President enthusiastically handled the diplomatic assignment of seeking endorsement for Dr. Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank on behalf of President Buhari and would be available for any other assignments as the President pleases.

"Make no mistake about it Atiku Abubakar holds Buhari in the highest esteem, and would always remain loyal to him, and support him in every endeavour to succeed as president."

"The APC chieftain also called on Nigerians with members of the President's own party taking a lead in their undiluted support of his administration.

"We, the members of the President's own family need to lead in this direction for others to follow for the good of our nation and its peoples."

Atiku Abubakar denounced the increasing determination of some people to draw a wedge between President Buhari and himself.

"It has become crystal clear even to the blind that the motives of these hatchet men who are desperate to take every available newspaper space is to insult, vilify and calumniate the former Vice President.

"We cannot allow liars, denigrators and blackmailers and their sponsors to use Atiku as platform to ingratiate themselves with President Buhari and hijack his presidency under the pretext of loving him more than anyone else. These political ventriloquists are hiding behind the cover of anonymity to achieve their sinister agenda of making Atiku the fall guy in the unfolding political developments."