The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Political Parties for Good Governance has called upon President Bola Tinubu to revoke Atiku Abubakar’s national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON). This request is intended to serve as a deterrent to others, emphasizing the significance of respecting the office of the president.
Dr. Lilian Ogbole, the convener of the coalition, made this plea during a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday. She observed that Atiku’s recent press conference could be seen as an attempt to regain power through questionable means, by manipulating emotions and fabricating falsehoods. In contrast, she characterized Peter Obi’s press conference on October 11, 2023, concerning the same issue as childish, disgraceful, and laughable.
Ogbole stressed that instead of providing evidence to counter Tinubu’s submissions to INEC, Obi humorously requested that the President provide evidence to discredit the certificates and information submitted to INEC.
She opined that it is becoming evident that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is at odds with national interests and has not adhered to true democratic principles or respected the rule of law. Ogbole asserted that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party in the 2003 election, does not demonstrate the kind of leadership that Nigerians can confidently entrust with the country’s well-being.
She stated, “The fact that Alh. Atiku Abubakar repeatedly failed in his quest to become the President of Nigeria does not justify his deliberate tarnishing of the image of Nigeria and the esteemed office of the Vice President, which he once held. This is unacceptable to us, and we will no longer stand by and allow him to do such a thing.”
“As stakeholders in the nation-building process, we wish to use this platform to call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to exercise his authority as provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to safeguard the country’s image and interests by revoking Alh. Atiku Abubakar Sadiq’s national honor of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).”