APC Primaries: Again Atiku Promises To Concede Defeat, Support Eventual Winner

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, November 27th, 2014

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

Former Nigerian Vice President (VP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised to support and collapsed his political structure into any of the co – contestants who emerges as the opposition’s flag bearer at the approaching primary.

Atiku Abubakar

Atiku said, although, he remains the most politically qualified and experienced among other APC aspirants, but affirmed as a true party man, he would support whoever that clinches the party’s ticket in the interest of the country’s democracy.

The Presidential hopeful made these known at Nike Lake Resort Enugu, Enugu state, while addressing national delegates of the State chapter of the APC.

Former number two citizen specified he would not criticize other Presidential aspirants, promising he would continue to address issues wherever he goes and not personalities.

Atiku, however, insisted that he was eminently qualified for the plum job, and has edge over his rivals, going by his years of experience as a Federal civil servant as well as a Vice President for eight years.

“Whether I win this primary or not, I will support whoever wins. That is why in all my public speeches I will not criticize any candidate,” he reiterated.

Ex VP further explained that the APC presidential aspirants have agreed to support one another.

“This is an undertaking we made that we will support each other and never criticize one another in public. We have to start the change at the leadership level” Atiku restated.

The APC Presidential aspirant, urged members to support their party’s candidates, even when the particular candidate they preferred failed to emerge as the flag bearer, reasoning that good governance was better than selfish gains.

The former VP emphasized: “Whoever wins the nomination, don’t work against the party. It is better for you. Your life will be better, the life of your family will be better.

“It is better for you to have the government than to remain in opposition because your candidate did not win.

“Good governance is better for you than whatever you can put in your own pocket.”

While justfying his candidature, Atiku said: “There is no part of this country that I cannot call a home – none of the rest can boast of this quality. Besides, none of them have acquired the experience I have acquired politically.

“Even when situations appeared favourable to me personally, I rejected in the interest of this country. I have fought many political battles for democracy, the rule of law and the survival of our democratic dispensation.

“I have prepared myself over the years to serve, I have the experience to serve and I want to serve.”

The aspirant also who recounted his humble beginnings, noted that he was fortunate to go to school on scholarship, while lamenting the situation was no longer the same in the country.

“I am today a self-fulfilled person. I am not looking for anything. The only passion I have is that I will never allow this country to be mis-governed. Today, the PDP is mis-governing this country to a level I have never seen in my life.”

Atiku who said he was in the presidential race to correct ills of the ruling peoples Democratic party PDP, noted that if there was no change in 2015, “PDP will destroy the country and we will be looking for another country because it will be too late.”