Atiku To Face ‘Dire Consequences’ If He Does Not Step Down His Desperation – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, has warned aggrieved PDP presidential candidate Atiku of dire consequences if he would not desist from the present path he has allegedly embarked on to pursue his perceived short changing at the last Nigerian presidential election.

While briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday in company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Lai Mohammed said

“As a self-avowed democrat, he should realise that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.”

Recall that on Tuesday SaharaReporters published an article where it reported that Atiku is currently lobbying the United States for support in his quest to challenge the outcome of the presidential election, the report alleged that he has paid $30,000 over a 90-day contract for a US law firm to provide “legal, consultancy and public advocacy services to encourage Congress and the Executive” not to recognize the Nigerian election results until the “impartially and independently resolved” legal challenge that the PDP has embarked on.

Atiku and Buhari, shoulder to Shoulder – Election Result Hints

Lai who referenced the controversial posters of Atiku that have suddenly surfaced in the streets of Abuja; said the posters were evidence of Atiku’s desperation, the former Vice President has however distanced himself from the posters, Mohammed warned Atiku to remember that the courts are the only permissible channel for challenging the result of the election.

“As you must have noticed in recent times, posters bearing the picture of former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with the inscription ‘THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE RIGHT’, have surfaced across major streets in Abuja.

“The appearance of these posters coincide with the media reports that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hired a US lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP presidential candidate

“The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost?”

“Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?” he asked.

“Gentlemen, we are aware of media reports that the PDP presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that are circulating in Abuja. He also reportedly denied hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC fabricated the report.

“If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice President has suddenly realised the grave implication of his actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too late.

“As a self-avowed democrat, he should realise that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.”