The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday tongue-lashed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the February 16 presidential election Atiku Abubakar.
The PDP, according to the former Lagos State governor, is seeking power to return the country to the dark days when the economy crumbled and Nigerians groaned under its reign between 1999 and 2015.
To him, it amounts to standing logic on its head to compare the PDP standard bearer to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.
Tinubu issued a statement titled: “We accept President Buhari’s assignment” on his appointment to lead President Buhari’s re-election campaign as the Co-Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. He said the two candidates – Buhari and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar – are miles apart when it comes to vision, mission and character.
His words: “The character of the two candidates cannot be more distinct. President Buhari is a straight and honest man. Leave a naira on the table with Buhari in the room. You will find the naira on the table when you return.
“When Buhari says ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ you know where he stands. He means what he says, no more, no less. With Atiku, things are more nuanced. When Atiku speaks, he may mean ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘maybe,’ ‘I don’t know,’ ‘come back tomorrow,’ ‘all the above,’ or ‘none of the above.’
“His compass has four needles pointing in different directions at the same time. He knows of no direction to take. President Buhari’s word is his bond. When Atiku speaks, it is to give you the slip.
“We cannot afford a President whose ways and mind is a maze of contradicting urges and colliding desires. This shows he has no vision for the nation and no guiding principles, except the naked pursuit of power for the naked use of that power.”
Tinubu spoke of Atiku’s role in the Obasanjo administration. He said: “Atiku had his chance to shine as VP when he controlled the privatisation programme of the Obasanjo government. He abused this assignment. He helped squander billions of dollars on power generation that did nothing but generated darkness.
“That government had so much money at its disposal and that is exactly what it did. It disposed of the money, yet, failed to treat the poor or build for the future.
“Atiku laid waste to the national treasury for eight long years. That is enough for one lifetime. We should not reward him by giving him another eight years because the more he feeds, the stronger his hunger grows.
“His is a thirst that can’t be quenched and a hand that cannot be restrained from taking whatever is on the table.
“As the PDP candidate, he is now the leader of an avaricious horde that seeks to reattach its mandible once again to the public wealth and forever lay siege to our nation’s future. Nigerians would do well not to pay them any attention.”
