Emulate Goodluck Jonathan, concede defeat if you lose – Atiku tells Buhari

Atiku Abubakar 

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to emulate his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who, in 2015, walked the talk of ‘political ambition not worth the blood of any Nigerian’ when he conceded defeat in the last presidential election.

Atiku, an ex-Vice President, gave the advice on Tuesday in a statement issued by his media Adviser, Paul Ibe, in Abuja.

His counsel came as a reaction to President Buhari’s New Year message in which he said the 2019 election should not be a do-or-die affair.

Atiku said the President will be judged by his actions, not rhetoric.

While urging the incumbent president to lead by example, Atiku said: “It is not enough to preach peace when he (Buhari) cannot publicly condemn the violent behaviour of his supporters who harass, molest and publicly humiliate his opponents and their supporters.

“It is not enough for the President to condemn do-or-die politics if he cannot control the activities of overzealous aides, including the country’s security chiefs, especially the Inspector General of Police whose activities lately gives him away as a partisan player in negation of his constitutional role.

“Go beyond lip service and urge security chiefs to be politically neutral during the election. Their loyalty to the constitution doesn’t include putting themselves at the service of the ruling party at the expense of free and fair elections.

“Jonathan lived by his noble words and statesmanship when he conceded defeat without hesitation, thereby contributing to peaceful conduct of election.”
- Daily Post