Atiku Remains Symbol Of National Unity, Pan-Nigerian Leader – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also reacted to the backlash trailing the statement made by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

PDP Reacts To Atiku’s Statement

The party described Atiku as a “Symbol of national unity.”

Kanyi Daily reported that Atiku had on Saturday in Kaduna asserted that the north does not need Yoruba or Igbo candidates when it comes to the presidency, adding that the only candidate worthy of the coveted seat is him alone.

“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.

“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin,” Atiku opined.

Spokesman of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, issued on Sunday, said Atiku’s comment was taken out of context, adding that he “will never set any part of our country against the other”.

The statement reads, “The PDP dismisses the attempt by the malignant 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.”

Ologunagba added that “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,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday, slammed Atiku over his statement, saying he will disunite the country and cause strife.