“We in the APC were aware from onset that Atiku was going to leave APC back to PDP in December and we thank God that, he left in November. Atiku had seen that, we in the APC, especially the APC Governors had resolved to support President Muhammadu Buhari to run again in 2019. That is why he left APC, since he was only looking for where to contest for presidency. “Even in the 2015 APC primary election, Atiku didn’t come second, he was floored by Kwankwaso. So, even if President Buhari decides not to contest, Atiku knows that the APC ticket is not sure for him,” El-Rufai said.
Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has reportedly accused former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of lying when he claimed that he financed the campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
Atiku had defected from the governing APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in November claiming he was abandoned in spite of his financial contributions to the party.
It has however been reported that Governor El-Rufai did not only insist that Atiku did not spend a dime on the APC but that he also challenged the former vice president to prove his claim of financing the APC campaigns in 2015 and that he was then dumped.
The Kaduna governor gave this challenge during an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA).
He said: “We in the APC were aware from onset that Atiku was going to leave APC back to PDP in December and we thank God that, he left in November.
“Atiku had seen that, we in the APC, especially the APC Governors had resolved to support President Muhammadu Buhari to run again in 2019. That is why he left APC, since he was only looking for where to contest for presidency.
“Even in the 2015 APC primary election, Atiku didn’t come second, he was floored by Kwankwaso. So, even if President Buhari decides not to contest, Atiku knows that the APC ticket is not sure for him. Majority of the APC Governors have endorsed President Buhari as our candidate for 2019.
“And we thank God, God has continued to improve the health condition of the President. Each time I see him, I thank God and I still pray that God continues to give him sound health.
“So, by 2019, we are waiting to see Atiku contest, we are waiting to contest against him and see what happens. But, I cannot lose sleep because Atiku wants to contest, because by God’s grace, this is the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Agreed, in politics if you lose even only one person, it should worry you, but the utterances of the former Vice President that, APC used his money, who did he give the money to? For me, I know those that supported us with their money and property that we used during election, and I never heard the name of Atiku that he brought a dime. If Atiku said he brought money, who did he give? Let him come and say it and how much did he give and what was it used for?
“And in fact, if Atiku brought money, I ought to know, because I am part of the leadership of the party and during campaign, myself and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi were at the centre of the presidential campaign. Therefore, we are supposed to know. So, let him mention whom he gave the money and how much?”
On what he thought about people defecting with Atiku to the APC, El-Rufai said: “Sure, we know that, we cannot rule out the possibility of some greedy people following him, those that are following material things. But, if people will consider how we can work for the progress of our country, everybody knows that you cannot compare Atiku with President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Meanwhile, the Intellectual Think Tank for Advancement Initiative (ITTA), a civil society organisation, called on Atiku to formally declare his intention to contest for the presidency in 2019 general elections or be dragged to court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairman of the group, Theophilus Ohuoba, said on Wednesday, December 20, in Abuja that the time is ripe for Atiku to make public his intention to run for the position.
