Plateau Rally : How Buhari was smuggled out of the venue, crowd disconnected public address system and carted away with the cables, over crowded the podium, vandalized vehicles and some parts of the stadium.

Security operatives were overwhelmed while trying to control a mammoth that thronged the Rwang Pam Township Stadium Jos, venue of President Muhammadu Buhari re-election campaign flag off.

Buhari, who was smuggled out of the Stadium because of the uncontrollable crowd, left the vicinity hurriedly.

The crowd disconnected the public address system and carted away with the cables, over crowded the podium, they also vandalized vehicles and some parts of the stadium.

The President and other dignitaries could not gain access to the podium because of the mammoth crowd.

They could not use the public address system, so none of the dignitaries spoke including the president, who could only wave the crowd, before he was smuggled out through the VIP section of the stadium.

At the gate of the stadium, party faithful kept pushing to enter defying the orderly queue.

DSP Teena Tyopev, spokesperson had before the event said that 2, 050 police personnel have been deployed to ensure a hitch-free even.

As many as the security personnel were, which included military, NSCDC, vigilantes among others, they still had rough time containing the crowd.

It would be recalled that, the Chairman of Commitee and Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, had during a press briefing on Wednesday envisaged the turnout, and assured that adequate security arrangement was in place.

Tyoden said, “As usual, we are expecting a large gathering of party faithful from all the 17 local government areas of the state. Conscious of the expectation of his coming, all other arrangements including security before and after the grand rally is in top gear”.

Meanwhile, the main opposition PDP had earlier before the arrival of President Buhari, said citizens of the state have every reason to panic over the president’s visit, saying anytime he visits the state “our peace in the state would be threatened by his knife wielding, club carrying supporters”.

The PDP equally said the citizenry have every right to “panic and shiver”, because they have lost confidence in the leadership style of Governor Simon Lalong and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party through its State Publicity Secretary, John Akans, said the people of the state have to panic because their experiment with the APC led administration has prove to be the worst mistake they ever made in recent times.

Akans said, “As Plateau people prepare for the APC Presidential flag bearer’s visit to the state on Saturday (today), January 19, 2019, Plateau should panic, shiver because they have lost confidence in Governor Lalong and President Buhari’s leadership.”

APC group says mole working against Buhari’s govt

Buhari

The North East Solidarity Network of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made a shocking disclosure on some persons believed to be moles working against the unity and interest of the country.

The APC group was reacting to a recent article entitled “All the President’s Men: On national (in)security” where the author claimed a few individuals were playing games with our future and putting our security institutions on a dangerous trajectory.

Reacting, however, the pro-APC group said it has become evident that the author has been working silently for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially with her recent outbursts against the current government. 

Ali Monguno, President of the group, while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, called on the leadership of the APC to expel Naja’atu from the party for alleged antiparty-activities.

Monguno noted that her activities and association in recent weeks clearly confirm that she is beyond redeeming where commitment to the cause of our party goes

He said: “We have become aware of an inciting and derogatory opinion articles titled “All the President’s Men: On national (in)security”.

“There has been some degrees of hesitation to respond to the inciting nature of the article, which has been widely publicised and syndicated by different media outlets. Our hesitations are based on the desire not to be seen as being sexist and intolerant of a woman holding public office or presuming that she cannot make meaningful contribution to national debates on account of her gender.

“Another consideration that has tampered the rapidity of our response is the collective hysteria on the part of those we have found she is working for. Any perceived criticism of the shallowness of her thinking would immediately be put down as the intolerance of the ruling APC. Yet, she has turned facts on its head to not only disparage the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, she went the extra length of maligning other appointees that have put more dedication and patriotism into carrying out their assignment

“We believe she must have contracted the writing of the article to someone else and never bothered to vet it before it was sent out for publication. Otherwise, there are glaring shortcomings that should not have emanated from someone that currently occupies a public position. The piece credited to her is an admission of failure to which someone of an equivalent engagement in other countries would have resigned before making the points she attempted to make in the piece.

“By virtue of her position, the same points she raised in the article could have been better made and put in the form of a memo to Mr President. Her stance would then have been tenable as a concerned appointee and party member that wants the best for the country in addition to wanting the President to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

“We want to affirm that the author must have been using her role to sabotage the government’s efforts in providing improve security for the country. If she were patriotic as she said, her article should have listed what she has done as a member of the Commission to improve on security in Nigeria. But she could not mention one thing she has uniquely contributed towards the improvement of the Police.

“With the firebrand-critic image she cut for herself prior to her appointment, including rejecting a board membership that we have now found out was turned down for not being juicy, could have done better. Nigerians had expected she should be able to provoke reforms at the PSC such that the police can resume the performance of some of its duties that are currently burdening our military.

Now that is has been proven that her recent outbursts, in print and electronic media, that are being sponsored by the opposition to get the widest publicity possible are intended to rubbish the efforts being made by President Buhari’s administration, especially in its war against terrorism. She set out to achieve these through her inciting and derogatory campaign of calumny against the President and leader of our great party.

“Incidentally, the doors are wide opened for her to walk into the PDP so that she will no longer have to put up pretences about where her loyalty lies. We know her heart is with those that have promised to make it rain naira and dollar so she is welcome to go join them with her umbrella to catch the promised windfall that will never come since the PDP has by now conceded defeat even though the elections are yet to hold.

“We used the opportunity of this press briefing to call on the national leadership of our great party to, as matter of urgency, expel the author from the party for her obvious antiparty-activities. Her activities and association in recent weeks clearly confirm that she is beyond redeeming where commitment to the cause of our party goes. Her continued membership of the party is simply to allow her access to confidential information that she is passing to the PDP.”

I will not betray the trust of the people - Buhari.

President Buhari 

Speaking in Kaduna at the APC presidential rally, President Buhari said he has fulfilled all his campaign promises and urged the people to vote for him again in order to consolidate on the gains so far achieved.

The President who spoke in Hausa promised that he will not betray the trust of the people and will do everything to protect the people from being exploited.

Also, governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai who was at the rally with his three wives accused the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar of going to America to take instructions from President Donald Trump and urged the people to reject him at the polls.

“He has gone to America to reassure his masters that they should not worry, he will hand over the country to them. He has gone to report to those who control him” he said.

Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole said the people of Kaduna state should reject the PDP because “Atiku supervised” the closure of textile industries in the state.

Breaking: Body of SANs resolve to tackle FGN over Onnoghen, Usoro’s trial

Cross section of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria at their inauguration in Abuja. File Photo.

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, BOSAN has resolved to tackle the Federal Government over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Paul Usoro, SAN.

The body is currently holding an emergency meeting at the conference room of Nigeria Law School, Lagos.

As at the time of filing this report, the body has constituted a committee to draft a communique on their position which will be issued later today.

The meeting which started at about 10:00am had in attendance over 50 Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

A very reliable source who was at the meeting told Vanguard that most of the senior lawyers at the meeting expressed their displeasure with the procedure adopted by the Federal Government in prosecuting the CJN.

According to the source, the trial of the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN before the Federal High Court Lagos over allegation of fraud was also extensively discoursed.

The source also disclosed that most of the SANs who spoke at the meeting expressed their displeasure with manner that FG appears to have declared war against the judiciary.

Vanguard also learnt that a Senior Advocate who is among Federal Government’s prosecuting team was also at the meeting.

A comprehensive communique on the full resolution of the body will be issued later today.

Why Buhari is absent at Presidential Debate – Keyamo

The spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo, has explained why the president was not at the ongoing President Debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

Keyamo in a statement titled ‘WHY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI DID NOT ATTEND THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIA ELECTION DEBATE GROUP AND THE BROADCASTING ORGANISATIONS OF NIGERIA’ said that: ‘it should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources. When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice President to defend before the Nigerian people.’

He also said that the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme.

Read full statement below
The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President Muhammadu Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday, January 19, 2019 for the following reasons:

Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. He was also joined at that town-hall meeting by our Vice-Presidential candidate who is also the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Nigerians from all walks of life who were physically present and through on-line platforms asked uncensored questions which were adequately answered. It was also transmitted live by various broadcast networks in Nigeria.

In addition, the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme. Today, Mr. President commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State and campaigned in Niger and Plateau States where his time was over-stretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both States, (as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja late this evening.

Whilst we thank the organisers for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem which our candidate has demonstrated during past election debates when he honoured similar invitations. Nigerians will also recall that a few weeks ago, our Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also attended the debate organized by the same organisations.

Lastly, we note the statement of the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who actually came for the event and left the venue when he did not see Mr. President, who is our candidate. According to him, he would not want to “attack” Mr. President in his absence.

It should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources. When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice President to defend before the Nigerian people.

On February 16, 2019 we urge Nigerians to demonstrate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, through their votes, how empty indeed their campaign has always been and to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who have started the rebuilding process of our great nation.

Thank you.

Ezekwesili, Durotoye, Moghalu blast Atiku and Buhari for missing presidential debate

The three Presidential candidates attending the debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, on Saturday took turns lambasting President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party for shunning the debate.

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party; a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Peoples Congress of Nigeria; and motivational speaker, Mr. Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria, described Buhari and Atiku as old men who lacked the ability to answer questions.

The moderator, Mark Sugar, asked the three candidates to react to the absence of the two frontline candidates.

Ezekwesili started by saying Buhari and Atiku had announced their exit from the Presidential race by their action.

She said, “I am not surprised they are not here. They have simply announced their exit from the governance. I think it is important that we acknowledge there is a political class that needs to fade away from our country because the idea that the will of the people to be subjected to the whims and caprices of our politicians should be a total anomaly.

“Today as we focus on the competitive ideas that will develop country if the two dominant parties cared about our people, they would come here to contest ideas on how they will fix Nigeria.”

Durotoye, who spoke next, said the APC and the PDP are two sides of the same coin and asked Nigerians to ensure that the two parties never get into power again.

“This shows that the future is here and old things have passed away. I must say to Nigerians that pride always comes before a fall and every time you feel you don’t need to tell Nigerians what you want to do, it means that you are not there to serve them in the first place but you’re there to rule them.

“We have had 20 years of rulership and rulers do not explain to their subjects what they are going to do. They don’t owe it to them.”

Also speaking, Moghalu said the two men lacked the ability to answer questions properly.

He said, “I am not surprised that the candidates of the APC and the PDP have decided to turn their backs on Nigerians and say the people never meant much in their eyes.

“The reason they are not here are first, arrogance because they believe the people of Nigeria have no voice and no choice and that you will always come back to them. They believe they have trapped you and we believe it is time to send them a message.

“The second reason they are not here is because they cannot answer the questions. It is very simple. They belong to the old recycled politicians that want to return to power with a sense of entitlement but not a record of performance.”

Presidency peaks on ‘plan’ to arrest, sack CJN Onnoghen

The Presidency has reacted to the report making the rounds in the media of a plan to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

The Presidency, in a statement by the Special Aassistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said there was no such plan.

He asked Nigerians to disregard the claims while describing it as fake news.

The statement added, “We have read with considerable concern and surprise, the fake news of the Presidency’s alleged plan to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria and frame three other Supreme Court Justices.

 “This false story is being peddled by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) apparently to set the judiciary against the executive and cause major confusion ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“The story is absolutely false as the Presidency is not in any way involved in plotting against or framing anybody.

“We note that the findings of the Code of Conduct Bureau against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the allegations arising from them, are being handled by the courts in the normal way, as is expected in a democratic society like ours. The Presidency has not, and will certainly not, interfere in the process.

“We, however, want to draw the attention of the general public to this or similar false stories, which are ill motivated to further the political interests of their sponsors.

“While the Buhari administration is very firmly committed to the fight against corruption, we want to assure the general public that Government will always pursue its mission with the highest standards of fairness, and in strict conformity with the relevant laws.”

Hoodlums attack Titi Atiku while campaigning for husband in Ibadan

Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Friday attacked the wife of a former Vice President of the country, who doubles as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Titi in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Fabmimi gathered that the unknown men picked on Titi's convoy at the Sarkin Sasa house in Ojoo area of Ibadan, leaving some supporters in her convoy injured.

A chieftain of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Bisi Olopoenia, confirmed the development, while the Police couldn't be reached as at press time.

Mrs. Abubakar had arrived in the city two days ago to solicit support for her husband’s presidential bid.

Governor Okorocha speaks on being suspended by APC

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has insisted that he remains a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), contrary to claims by the factional chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State, Marcelinus Nlemigbo, that he has been suspended from the party.

Okorocha denied the suspension controversy in a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo,

The Governor also maintained that there is no faction of the APC in Imo State.

According to him, “There is only one APC in the State with Hon. Daniel Nwafor as the Chairman and Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the leader. Any other group claiming to be a faction of Imo APC must obviously be a gang of 419ers or league of fraudsters who are experts in issuance of dud cheques and collecting billions for jobs not done.

“The only contentious issue in Imo APC is that the National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, imposed a known PDP member and a known character in the state on the party as its governorship candidate, and by so doing pushing the party and its members to a very tight corner especially when it comes to the issue of marketing a candidate.

“If Mr. Oshiomhole didn’t want the preferred candidate of members of the party in the state, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, for any reason, and if he actually meant well for Imo APC, he would have taken one of the guber aspirants that formed the coalition who are known members of the party, and who is also from Owerri zone, since that was the reason some of them in the coalition claimed that made them to leave the government. ”

Further to buttress his claim, Governor Okorocha said “but the APC National Chairman preferred a PDP man and also from Orlu zone. And he imposed the Candidate on the party and at a time the man was facing charges on corruption. That is the problem with Imo APC and its guber candidate.

“Aside this problem, Oshiomhole also told his audience that he has dissolved the EXCOs of the Party from the State to the wards in total disregard of a ruling by Hon. Justice O.A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Bwari Abuja, delivered on August 14, 2018 inSuit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018.

“In the ruling, Justice Musa stated; “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants either by themselves, the National Working Committee, or National Executive Committee from either removing, substituting, replacing, suspending or interfering with the tenure of the 3rd Defendant/Claimant, his Executive and all elected officers of the 1st Defendant contained in exhibits A,B,C and D from their elected offices”.

“And to the best of our knowledge, Justice Musa’s ruling has neither been appealed against nor quashed. In other words, Mr. Oshiomhole decided to urinate on the High Court ruling when he said he has dissolved the Daniel Nwafor EXCO and has set up the M.O. Nlemigbo Caretaker Committee. One therefore does not need to be a SAN to know that the National Chairman’s action was null, void and of no effect. It was effort in futility and that is why a contempt charge has been filed against him.

“We are worried that the elections are around the corner and some people who are expected to know better, are behaving as if they have nothing at stake. Governor Okorocha and APC members in the State will deliver President Muhammadu Buhari and other marketable Candidates of the Party. And the party in the State shall outlive these yahoo folks,” the statement added.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom apologises to Nigerians for supporting President Buhari in 2015.

On Friday Jan. 18th, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom apologised to Nigerians and the people of the state for supporting the election of President Buhari in 2015. 

Ortom stated this during his campaign tour of Wanune, in the Tarka Local Government Area of the state, the governor said that he was following the footstep of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had apologised to Nigerians.  

 He explained that he was doing same because the President Buhari-led administration had not only allegedly failed to live up to expectations but also condoned the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen across the country. “All complaints for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of Fulani groups that sponsored the killing of our people in the state and destruction of property fell on deaf ears.” According to him, while Buhari’s kinsmen, the late Presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Yar’adua, appointed several Tiv people as ministers in their cabinets, the President had allegedly appointed none, in spite of the fact that the ethnic group which voted massively for him in 2015 was estimated to be the fourth largest in the country. 

The governor further alleged that the Buhari administration had brought more hardship on Nigerians and people of the state in different ways, pointing out that Nigerians could not afford another four years of his leadership that would further plunge them into more crises.  

He, therefore, urged the people to support his re-election as Governor and that of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as President, in the forthcoming general elections.

Forgive me for giving you a disaster as a Governor, vote Jime.....he ll wipe your tears- Sen Akume kneels down to beg Benue people....Photos.

During the flag off of Jime/Ode campaign today in Makurdi at the Ibb square,Apc leader and former governor of Benue state ,Senator George Akume went on his knees to Benue people for presenting ex gov Suswam and Gov Ortom as Benue.

He said

"We thought that he ll perform, but he is Zero!

Forgive me for giving you a disaster as a Governor, vote Jime.....he ll wipe your tears."

Trending photos of Ooni of Ife participating in the Oshoosi festival

Ooni of Ife and Spiritual Head of the Yoruba race worldwide, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, participated in the Oshoosi Festival 2019 yesterday January 18th. The Oshoosi is a deity believed to be the father of philanthropy and religious congregation for purity and sanity in Yoruba land.See more photos below

We will deliver South West for Buhari ― South awesome Frontier for Buhari

A Presidential Support group, South West frontier for Buhari 2019, has promised to deliver the entire six states in the South West for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), President Mohammadu Buhari in 2019 election.

The Coordinator of the group, Mr Ayodele Joseph, who made this promised after stakeholders meeting in Ibadan, vowed to ensure victory for Buhari in the next month presidential election.

Joseph said the group had put all necessary mechanism in place to ensure that APC wins the election saying the good work embarked upon by Bihari administration must be completed.

He said the group would be moving from House to House in its campaign for the emergence of Buhari in the election saying the people of the region have decided to cast their votes for Buhari.

He said the group which included artisans, fathers, traders, religious group, community leaders, youths and market men and women have started mobilising for the re-election of Buhari/Osibajo

He said ” we have been mobilising support for Buhari across the soup west states and I can assure you that the south-west states will be delivered for Buhari.

“We have penetrated all the local government areas, wards and units in the region working day and night for the victory of  Buhari in the election. The misrule of the PDP should be corrected completely to move this country forward.”

The group noted that the less than four years rule of APC has been productive saying the APC government has been able to prove to the world that Nigeria can be great again.

According to the coordinator of the group,” another four year of Buhari is what the nation needed to overcome all challenges confronting the nation and set the country on the right path to greatness. ”

He noted that the billion of naira recovered in the fight against corruption would go a long way to help to save Nigeria and Nigerians from corrupt leaders.

BREAKING: Billionaire Jimoh Ibrahim’s mother burnt to death in Lagos home

Madam Theresa Jimoh, the mother of billionaire business mogul, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, was at the early hours of Saturday burnt to death in a fire which engulfed her Lagos apartment.

The 76-year-old grandmother was said to be inside her house in the Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos, when a fire broke out in her residence at the early hours of Saturday, around 2:00 am.

The helpless septuagenarian was said to have been burnt to death by the strange fire before it was put out by firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Lagos, CSP Chike Oti, when contacted on phone by Tribune Online confirmed the incident.

Oti said the unfortunate incident occurred, and investigations were ongoing to unravel the cause of the fire.

BREAKING: Atiku angrily walks out of presidential debate - 'I cannot debate if Buhari fails to show up'

The presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Friday walked out of the Nigeria Election Debate Group, citing the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

Atiku who arrived the venue with PDP heavyweights, including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, regretted said he cut short his trip from United States to debate with Buhari.

He said, “We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar can not challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies. After all you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.

“I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself. As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the the APC Presidential Candidates absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.

“Secondly, with all due respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu and to the moderator and with all apologies to my Fellow Nigerians here and at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret that I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.

“I, however, challenge the President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.

Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

READ HIS TWEETS BELOW

We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies. #2019Debatepic.twitter.com/crperoO3tT

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 19, 2019

Afterall, you cannot shave a man's head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 19, 2019

As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 19, 2019

With respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu & to moderator Mark Sugar & with apologies to Nigerians here & at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari's absence.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 19, 2019

I however challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well. 

Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 19, 2019

Atiku returns to Nigeria after 2 days visit to US.Photos.

 The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has arrived Abuja, Nigeria after his succeful trip to the United States of America.

Alhaji Atiku who arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport few minutes ago  is in high spirit and  is set for the Presidential candidates debate which comes up today at 7PM at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. 

Just in : Makurdi stands still as APC launches Jime/Ode campaign gubernatorial campaign. Photos.

The governorship flag bearer of the All progressive Congress (APC) in Benue state,Rt.Hon.Barr Emmanuel jime and his Deputy Hon.Barr.Sam Ode  are flagging off their campaign now at IBB square Makurdi.