Ethnic Politics: PDP Accuses APC Of Mischief; Says Atiku Is Pan-Nigerian Leader

By Gideon Njoku

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of mischief and deliberate distortion of the submissions of its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Kaduna.

Atiku had, while addressing a high profile audience in Kaduna on Saturday, said the North does not need an Igbo President or a Yoruba President, and asked them to vote for him, a Northerner who is a pan-Nigerian leader.

Since that statement, the APC has gone to town, and accused Atiku of playing ethnic politics, of telling his people, Northerners, not to vote for a Yoruba or Igbo  candidate. A number of people bought into that, and this version is spreading like wild fire.

The PDP has cried foul, and dismissed it as an attempt “by the malignant All Progressives Congress (APC) to accuse the PDP Presidential candidate of playing ethnic and tribal politics.

In a Press Release, Sunday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP described “as shameless and irresponsible that the APC will go to the extent of deliberately distorting, doctoring, misinterpreting and taking out of context, the comment by the PDP Presidential candidate at a Stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna State on Saturday in a bid to smear his image as a Pan-Nigerian leader.”

Explaining what happened, the PDP said: ” To set the record straight, the PDP Presidential candidate, in responding within the context of the question put to him at the event noted that he had built bridges across the country and that what Nigerians, including an average Northerner need was a Pan-Nigerian leader and not an ethnic champion.”

Following is the full text of the Press statement.

PDP Dismisses APC’s Allegation of Ethnic Politics Against Atiku Abubakar… Insists Its Presidential Candidate is a Pan-Nigerian Leader

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismisses the attempt by the malignant All Progressives Congress (APC) to accuse the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar of playing ethnic and tribal politics.

“The PDP describes as shameless and irresponsible that the APC will go to the extent of deliberately distorting, doctoring, misinterpreting and taking out of context, the comment by the PDP Presidential Candidate at a Stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna State on Sunday in a bid to smear his image as a Pan-Nigerian leader.

“For clarity and avoidance of doubt Atiku Abubakar remains a Pan-Nigerian leader; a symbol of national unity, cohesion and tolerance who is comfortable and loved in all parts of the country. He had never and will never set any part of our country against the other as being mischievously hyped by the APC.

“To set the record straight, the PDP Presidential Candidate, in responding within the context of the question put to him at the event noted that he had built bridges across the country and that what Nigerians including an average northerner need was a Pan-Nigerian leader and not an ethnic champion.

“Of course, Nigerians are wise and can fully understand the contextual import of the statement by Atiku Abubakar which is that what Nigerians need is a competent and Pan Nigerian leader and not a regionally inclined individual.

“We know that the APC is jittery over the overwhelming popularity of Atiku Abubakar across the nation because of his focus on issues that will improve the lives of Nigerians and as such the APC is desperate to smear his Pan-Nigerian standing.

“Moreover, Nigerians know that if there is any Party that has inflicted discord and strife of a worst kind in our country, it is the divisive APC which has violently balkanized our nation and brazenly elevated nepotism, tribalism, ethnicity and sectional chauvinism as official Policies of State.

“It is the APC which mobilized thugs and hoodlums in Lagos State recently to attack persons of other ethnicities at INEC registration centers. Nigerians have not forgotten how APC leaders evicted people of other ethnicities and threatened to chase them to the lagoon for supporting other parties in the 2019 general elections circle.

“Under the APC, Nigeria became so divided that sectional self-determination agitation escalated with many regions establishing their own quasi-security outfits in total loss of faith in the APC administration.

“The APC is a party of shameless treasury looters, selfish power grabbers and incompetent lot who must not be allowed to stay a day longer in office beyond May 29, 2023.

“The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to disregard the APC’s shenanigans and remain focused on the PDP’s mission to rescue, reunite, rebuild and restore our nation on the path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which the Atiku/Okowa Presidential ticket represents.”