By Ayo Kehinde
Borrowing a now familiar pre-2015 phrase of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has said, “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
He gave the pledge at the second signing of the Peace Accord in Abuja on Wednesday, under the auspices of retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar/ Bishop Hassan Kukah Peace Committee.
He said: “As we prepare to sign off on this Peace Accord, as representatives of our party and people, may I freely quote the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which remains a benchmark, for me, taking into account the deep feelings that prevail as February 16th, 2019, approaches.
“My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
He appealed to every staff and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force, to be fair arbiters in the upcoming elections while letting neutrality prevail, urging them not to embark on indiscriminate arrests of members of the opposition, 24 to 48 hours before elections, as has been the case in previous elections.
“Hopefully, our democracy should emerge stronger from this process with the 2019 elections proving better managed than the 2015 process, which was adjudged free and fair with the then opposition’s victory unobstructed
“Consequently, I also appeal to the President, General Buhari, to use his good office to ensure that every eligible person who casts their vote is confident in the process and in the belief that their vote will count.
“Additionally, every candidate must remember that this election is about the future of Nigeria, therefore, we must abide by the will of the people as freely expressed through elections, under the terms of our constitution,” he concluded in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe.
