By Uche Mbah
Amidst allegations and counter allegations over their health and level of corruption between the Presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, their New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP counterpart, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has advised both of them to quit the race.
Both candidates, in the past few days have thrown caution to the wind, attacking each other.
While Tinubu accused Atiku of hiding his health condition and plotting to sell Nigeria to his cronies, Atiku accuses Tinubu of suffering from Parkinson’s disease, besides being, allegedly, into drugs.
NNPP alleges the mudslinging has made mockery of the 2023 election, and brought disrepute to the country, thereby making Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of Nations.
In a statement signed by NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major, the Party advised the duo to withdraw from the February 25 elections, to answer to charges in court.
Describing their Presidential Candidate as the Man To Beat, the NNPP urged Nigerians to go and collect their PVCs to vote them out if they refuse to step aside.
“Nigeria has been brought to ridicule and disrepute before the comity of nations over accusations of high level corruption and drug peddling against Atiku and Tinubu. He that goes to equity must come with a clean hand’, the statement said.
“NNPP demands the immediate withdrawal of both presidential candidates to answer to charges preferred against them in court. It is justice juxtaposed for them to continue in the presidential race with heavy allegations of wrongdoings on their shoulders. It is moral burden for the two candidates to continue in this race at a time Nigerians are looking for a younger and unblemished crop of leaders. There is no moral justification for Atiku and Tinubu to strive to rule the nation until the court decides their fates one way or the other. National interest supersedes personal interests, aggrandizement and grandstanding in the quest for a better, greater, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation.
“Nigerians are tired of recycled politicians who have numerous cases of corruption, drugs, birth/educational certificates, health and questionable source of wealth. Citizens want men and women of integrity, visionary, purposeful, resourceful, dynamic and transformational leaders to usher them to a new and better Nigeria we all desire.
“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the man of the moment to give Nigerians a new lease of life after years of wandering in political wilderness from the oppressive APC and PDP regimes”, the statement concluded.
