By Dele Ogbodo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in February elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,
has called on the US, United Kingdom, Germany, France and the international community through their various embassies to intervene in alleged constitutional breaches being perpetuated by President Muhammadu Buhari, especially as the election is just few weeks.
In the letter as contained in the statement he signed and made available SHARPEDGENews Online, he said, Buhari is threatening Nigeria’s democracy by serially breaching the provisions of our constitution and undermining organs and institutions of State in order to advance his personal interest.
He said: “While the President has ironically taken oath to safeguard and defend the Constitution of Nigeria, the reality of his selective and wanton violations of its provisions means that his oath is observed only in the breach.
“And as your excellency very much knows, respect for the rule of law is integral to promoting and preserving the values and principles of democracy.”
By the actions of the government of President Buhari, Atiku, said one is forced to think otherwise, stressing that the above, and many more that did not make it into this very short letter, are the unfortunate actions of the government of a man who merely pays lip service to being a reformed democrat.
He said: “General Elections are upon us yet again. I urge you to partner with Nigerians to defend our constitution and play an active role in building our country. The choices facing all of us is either to stand aside and watch Nigerians reelect a President who has been in constant violation of the laws of the land without remorse; or to support them show him the way out and elect a true democrat. We must send a clear message that the Nigerian Nation is bigger than any individual.
“Even if Nigerians opted not to elect me as President, the incumbent must go into the polls on his own record of lack of respect for the Rule of Law and not on the spurious perception of his “Integrity”. We need to set precedence for successive leaders not to take democratic mandate for granted.” he said.
On the suspension of Onnoghen, Atiku said: “On Friday, January 25, our nation woke up to the shocking news of the unilateral and extra-constitutional suspension of Onnoghen and the immediate appointment and swearing in of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
“This action of President Buhari, not only breaches the Nigerian Constitution, but has also managed to undermine presidential democracy by assaulting one of its hallowed doctrines of separation of Powers.
“President Buhari sometime in April 2018 approved the purchase of Tucano Aircrafts for the Nigerian Military at the sum of $496 million. This, he did, without seeking prior approval of the National Assembly contrary to Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states very clearly, how the President can spend monies belonging to the Federation.
“The Muhammadu Buhari administration has serially violated court orders, going against the rule of law especially in three known cases. Col. Sambo Dasuki (Former National Security Adviser): Various courts have granted Col. Dasuki bail on at least six different occasions; the Buhari led government has persistently refused to comply with the court orders.
“Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Leader of a Shiite Group, IMN, Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention without trial for over 3years after his followers were massacred in broad daylight; his wife and family killed and his home burnt, in a gory and shameful show of brute force by the Nigerian Army. This particular state violence is nothing short of genocide.”