Atiku visits Ex-President Jonathan; describes him as a core democrat

By Ovasa Ogaga,

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The former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has described former President Goodlcuk Jonathan as a hero of democracy in Nigeria and a core democrat whose decision to hand over power in 2015 has helped in deepen our democracy.

The former VP stated this on Wednesday during a courtesy call on President Jonathan at his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, recalled that Jonathan’s exemplary decision to hand over the reins of power without qualms, observed that that singular historic decision set him apart as a democrat of unimpeachable credentials.

Atiku, while reflecting on Jonathan’s action that doused tension in the country at that time, noted that the situation in Nigeria may have been different if he (Jonathan) did not voluntarily relinquish power.

 

“I want to say without equivocation that history will be very kind to you. As the democrat that I have always been, I want to say you have truly excelled! If you did not excel as a democrat par excellence, I wonder what the situation in Nigeria would be today”, Atiku said.

The former VP also criticised the ruling All Progress Congress (APC) for failing to address unemployment and other problems in the country.

Apart from accusing the Muhammadu Buhari administration of failing to strengthen the economy, Abubakar said the government had failed to overcome security challenges and other problems.

Consequently, he said it was up to the Peoples Democratic Party under which he hopes to run for the presidency in 2019 to seize power and fix the nation’s problems.

“It is only the PDP that has the strength and the structure to get back to Aso rock. There is no other party that has the structure and strength to display popularity than the PDP,” he said.

Abubakar added, “Without PDP, APC would not have been in Aso Rock. PDP will go back to Aso Rock. Have we ever had this rate of unemployment before in the country? Have we ever had five rates of dollar exchange in the country?

“Have we ever had so much of insecurity as we have today? No. Have we ever been so divided in this country like we are today? No. So how can I be satisfied?”

On his part, Jonathan said the PDP, having survived the crisis it faced after being voted out of power in 2015, has become stronger and fit to reclaim power at the federal level.

The former president also believes that the opposition party has the structure for good governance in Nigeria.

He said, “We had some issues in 2015 but the party is coming back and getting stronger. And I agree totally with the former Vice President that PDP is still, even though we are in the opposition, the strongest and largest party.

“We knew what made us lose the elections in 2015. It is not because PDP didn’t have that strength to do so. PDP being in 2015 had the strength to have won the election and 2019, PDP will go back.”

Jonathan also added that his relationship with Atiku dates back to more than 16 years ago when he was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State during which time the Waziri Adamawa showed him friendship and support.

On his own part, Mr Gbenga Daniel paid tribute to Jonathan as the most educated President Nigeria has ever had, who made it through the ranks as Deputy Governor to becoming Vice President and subsequently President of Nigeria.

Atiku was in Bayelsa from where he moved to Port Harcourt on Wednesday in continuation of his nationwide consultations for his 2019 presidential bid.

Apart from his visit to Jonathan, the former Vice President also paid a courtesy visit to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson.