Why Atiku’s petition against Buhari is good for Nigeria, Akirika

The Publicity Secretary of the Atiku/Obi Election Council in Anambra State, Okoli Akirika, has said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is challenging the outcome of the  February 23 election in court for posterity.

According to him, Atiku would have made the worst mistake in history if he had heeded the calls from some quarters not to challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal.

Akirika said posterity would not have forgiven Atiku and the PDP if they had backed out of the case after the election, and that the impunity perpetrated in the last presidential election was because former President Goodluck Jonathan did not challenge the outcome of the 2015 presidential election in court.

He said if Jonathan had challenged the poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission would have taken some  measures that would minimise what he called “the irregularities and impunity” that characterised the 2019 general elections.

“Atiku and PDP owe posterity a historic duty to make sure the result of the election is questioned, if not for any other thing, for keeping the record straight and for checkmating impunity in accordance with due process.

“The issue of allowing a sleeping dog lie does not arise in the circumstance. What is playing out today is happening because former President Goodluck Jonathan did not challenge the 2015 election.

“If Jonathan had challenged that election, I entertain no doubt that the Independent National Electoral Commission could not have displayed the kind of obnoxious rascality it exhibited in the 2019 elections.

“So Atiku and PDP owe the present generation of Nigerians and those yet unborn a duty to checkmate this impunity because if they don’t do that, in future elections, some people will boldly generate alleged figures of election and Nigerians will keep saying ‘allow the sleeping dog lie.’

“For how long shall this dog be allowed to sleep, if doing so is causing dissatisfaction, if it’s getting to the essence where societal expectations are  being jeopardised? That dog can’t be allowed to sleep.” Akirika

Punch