Politics

Buhari vs Atiku: Kukah speaks on ex-VP’s refusal to concede defeat

Published

6 years ago

March 17, 2019

The Convener of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, NPC, and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Revd (Dr) Matthew Hassan Kukah, has spoken on Atiku Abubakar’s refusal to call and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded presidential election.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has vowed never to concede defeat but instead approached the court to seek redress.

Kukah, said the peace committee did not make effort to persuade Atiku not to go to court because that was never on the table for discussion.

Kukah spoke on the side-line of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja.

He added, “I cannot say anything different from what the Peace Committee has said. Nobody has told Atiku not to go to court.

“He is doing something that he is convinced about and he should be encouraged to do so. Even when we had audience with the president, the president is not against it.

“So, I don’t think that is an issue. He is free to pursue what he needs to pursue to satisfy himself that he genuinely or legitimately lost the election.

“For me, I don’t think that is the issue. You are dealing with different personalities and different situations. It is not for me to judge; it is for Nigerians to judge and I don’t think you need to make anybody feel that they should feel guilty for deciding not to call the president or for deciding not to make a call to concede.

“After all, you have seen all the gubernatorial elections going on. What Jonathan did was spectacular and Jonathan is Jonathan. It doesn’t mean that every election will necessarily be concluded in that way.”