Election Postponement: Atiku urges Nigerians to remain peaceful In face of provocation

*Says postponement ploy to frustrate Nigerians

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful and not be allowed to be pushed into negative reaction or be provided by the shocking rescheduling of the 2019 elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the elections until 23 February and 9 March respectively. Expressing his surprise at such postponement despite of INEC continued assurances that it was fully prepared to conduct the polls, the former Vice President said the Buhari administration has had more than enough time and money to prepare for these elections and the Nigerian people were poised and ready to perform their civic responsibility by voting in the elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, 16 February, 2019. “This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement, the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date. Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively. “Knowing that the Nigerian people are determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people. “Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts. “As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes. “Maintain the peace and be law abiding. Do not react to this provocation with anger, violence or any action that might be exploited by those who do not want this election to hold. Remain calm. We will overcome this. You can postpone an election, but you cannot postpone destiny”, he said. Atiku, however, admonished all to come out to vote on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively. “Frustrate those who do not want this election to hold by coming out in very large numbers. That is the best antidote to their plans”, he charged.