CNPP asks Tinubu, Atiku to withdraw from presidential race over accusations, counter-accusations of fraud
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has demanded that the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, immediately withdraw from the February 2023 contest over alleged vices.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, CNPP said latest revelations and counter allegations against both presidential candidates have brought to the front burner urgent need to ensure corrupt politicians and persons with connections to illicit businesses are not allowed to emerge as political parties’ flag bearers in elections at all levels. The CNPP said: “While we agree with the APC presidential campaign council that security agencies should immediately arrest Atiku for prosecution over his Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) systems, as against open corruption, we also call for Tinubu to subject himself to security screening over alleged illicit business ventures and corruption allegation bordering on the use of SPV, like the Alpha Beta.”
According to the group, “for the CNPP, both APC and PDP are right in their calls and counter calls for their respective presidential candidates to step aside for thorough investigation, as the allegations made by a whistleblower, Mr. Michael Achimugu, against Atiku and the revelations equally made by award-winning journalist and researcher, David Hundeyin, bordering on international crime, specifically, trafficking in narcotics and taking proceeds of narcotics are all germane.
“These are serious allegations that impact negatively on corruption, national security and trans-border criminal activities. Crime prevention is part of the fundamental duties of the security agencies anywhere in the world and Nigeria is not an exception.” It noted further: “There is reasonable suspicion that Atiku engaged in syndicated corruption at hi-tech magnitudes as Vice President of Nigeria under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, where companies were alleged to have been deliberately incorporated purely as vehicles for unfettered siphoning of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
“Little wonder former President Obasanjo’s book, ‘My Watch’, in chapter 36, which was devoted to discussing alleged corruption and money laundering cases linked to Atiku, detailed some ‘corrupt involvement’ of the former Vice President with a company called iGATE, and William Jefferson, a former U.S. lawmaker, who was later jailed for 13 years over corruption.
(The Guardian)
