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| [FILES] Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar |
Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned alleged persecution of former President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
In a statement he personally signed and released to journalists on Tuesday, Abubakar noted that the issues for which Saraki is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been conclusively investigated and looked into even by the Court.
“The revival of previously investigated cases, and the fact that Dr. Saraki was politically opposed to the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari seems to give strong grounds for objective bystanders to conclude that his current travails have gone beyond prosecution and are now tending towards persecution,” Abubakar said.
In the statement tagged “Bukola Saraki: Silence In The Face of Tyranny Is Acquiescence”, Abubakar drew attention to the fact that he stands “against corruption in government, which was why my office personally facilitated the take-off of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after it was created by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.”
“However, there is a huge difference between prosecution and persecution. I am all for prosecuting the corrupt, but I believe it is wrong to use the instruments of state to persecute political opponent.
Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki, the immediate past Senate President, is one of the most investigated politicians in Nigeria. He has been investigated and prosecuted all the way to the Supreme Court and has prevailed against his accusers. It was expected that that should have been the end of the matter.”
He noted that “the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are made for all and we fought for democracy so that the powers of the state would not be used to suborn tyranny and oppression”
Atiku urged Saraki” to stand firm and take solace in the fact that Nigerians still hold the constitution higher than any other authority.”
“I urge all Nigerians, and especially those tasked with upholding the constitution and the laws of the land, to note that silence in the face of oppression is akin to acquiescence. I, Atiku Abubakar, will always stand up for the constitution and Nigeria.”
In a statement he personally signed and released to journalists on Tuesday, Abubakar noted that the issues for which Saraki is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been conclusively investigated and looked into even by the Court.
“The revival of previously investigated cases, and the fact that Dr. Saraki was politically opposed to the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari seems to give strong grounds for objective bystanders to conclude that his current travails have gone beyond prosecution and are now tending towards persecution,” Abubakar said.
In the statement tagged “Bukola Saraki: Silence In The Face of Tyranny Is Acquiescence”, Abubakar drew attention to the fact that he stands “against corruption in government, which was why my office personally facilitated the take-off of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after it was created by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.”
“However, there is a huge difference between prosecution and persecution. I am all for prosecuting the corrupt, but I believe it is wrong to use the instruments of state to persecute political opponent.
Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki, the immediate past Senate President, is one of the most investigated politicians in Nigeria. He has been investigated and prosecuted all the way to the Supreme Court and has prevailed against his accusers. It was expected that that should have been the end of the matter.”
He noted that “the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are made for all and we fought for democracy so that the powers of the state would not be used to suborn tyranny and oppression”
Atiku urged Saraki” to stand firm and take solace in the fact that Nigerians still hold the constitution higher than any other authority.”
“I urge all Nigerians, and especially those tasked with upholding the constitution and the laws of the land, to note that silence in the face of oppression is akin to acquiescence. I, Atiku Abubakar, will always stand up for the constitution and Nigeria.”
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