I am still very loyal to Buhari~Atiku

Firstclass newsline gathered that former Vice President and chieftain
of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has said that it is
dangerous for any individual or group within the APC to constitute
themselves into an opposition even before the constitution of
President Muhammadu Buhari's government.
He also expressed his loyalty to President Buhari.
The former Vice President made the call against the backdrop of
development in the polity, which he noted were interplay of forces and
dynamic interests that should not be promoted to the point of being a
threat to democracy and the new administration.
In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday,
and signed by Mazi Paul Ibe, the Turaki Adamawa acknowledged that it
was legitimate and desirable for individuals or groups to pursue their
interests.
He, however, noted that such should be done with the spirit of equity,
fair play and justice.
"Anything to the contrary may jeopardise our hard-earned democracy and
constitute a clog in the wheel of the new administration," Atiku said.
He noted that because of the historic nature of the mandate of
President Buhari and the arduous challenges ahead to deliver on making
Nigeria work for all Nigerians, it was important, especially for
members of the APC, to rally behind him in the quest to enthrone good
governance.
This, he said, would spur security and stability, economic and social
development, job creation, infrastructure renewal and above all a
better life for Nigerians.
The former Vice President urged members of the APC to emulate the
unity of all the presidential contestants after the party's Lagos
primaries and support the President to form his government and get to
work.
Abubakar exonerated himself from the purported hijack of the party and
the National Assembly towards 2019 as a figment of the imagination of
those promoting such insinuation.
He asked Nigerians to ignore all such insinuation.
Atiku noted that the recent outcomes of the National Assembly
leadership election, contrary to insinuations were products of
"interplay of politics which is itself in constant motion."
He said, "In politics, it is a mistake to expect fixed outcomes. As
the President has done, let's all come to terms with what has happened
in the interest of the system and move on.
"Suffice it to say that the new administration should be allowed to
have a smooth take off and be allowed the atmosphere to deliver. On
this, I stand with President Buhari."
The Turaki Adamawa while restating his unalloyed commitment to the
Buhari administration pledged to back this commitment with all of the
assets at his disposal.
The statement added that, "Not only did Atiku Abubakar congratulate
Buhari after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC at
the party's national convention in Lagos, he also handed over his best
assets to the Buhari Presidential Campaign.
"The former Vice President enthusiastically handled the diplomatic
assignment of seeking endorsement for Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as the
President of the African Development Bank on behalf of President
Buhari and would be available for any other assignments as the
President pleases.
"Make no mistake about it, Atiku Abubakar holds Buhari in the highest
esteem, and would always remain loyal to him, and support him in every
endeavour to succeed as President."
The APC chieftain also called on Nigerians with members of the
President's own party taking a lead in their undiluted support of his
administration.
"We, the members of the President's own family need to lead in this
direction for others to follow for the good of our nation and its
peoples," he added.
Abubakar also denounced the increasing determination of some people
who he said were bent on drawing a wedge between President Buhari and
himself.
"It has become crystal clear even to the blind that the motives of
these hatchet men who are desperate to take every available newspaper
space is to insult and vilify the former Vice President.
"We cannot allow liars, denigrators and blackmailers and their
sponsors to use Atiku as a platform to ingratiate themselves with
President Buhari and hijack his presidency under the pretext of loving
him more than anyone else.
"These political ventriloquists are hiding behind the cover of
anonymity to achieve their sinister agenda of making Atiku the fall
guy in the unfolding political developments.
Firstclassnewsline.net