The Nigerian Youths for Atiku (NYFA) has urged Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 President Candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) to stop denigrating the reputations of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The Director of Communications of NYFA (Nigeria & Diaspora), Mr Dare Dada, made this appeal in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
Dada spoke against the background of Kwankwaso’s media interview, accusing Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of peddling lies at 80 years of age.
Kwankwaso said that Abubakar’s camp has told some northern religious and political leaders of an agreement involving him and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, to take turns at the presidency from 2027.
Condemning perceived attack on Abubakar’s personality, Dada said that the former vice president was not a problem to Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition.
“It is so sad that someone of Kwankwanso caliber will make frantic efforts to denigrate the person of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, just to score some cheap political points.
“The former President needs no validation from him to be relevant politically as far as Nigeria political space is concerned.
“Engaging in such level of falsehoods just to make a point is not only ridiculous but demeaning,” Dada said.
He said that such attacks on opposition figures was not good at this time, saying it could manipulate public opinion.
According to him, the attacks were coming at a time when opposition leaders were suppose to be fueling ember of unity to come together to form a strong alliance.
He said that opposition leaders must shun divisive tendencies and rhetorics, capable of undermining the unity and progress needed in the nation.
Dada said that nobody should tarnish the reputations of the former vice president, saying Abubakar remained above board.
The youth leader urged Kwankwaso to rather dissipate energy on issues confronting the northern Nigeria and speak up.
He added: “The youth of this nation are determined to stand for integrity and ensure that politics of deceit and manipulation are relegated to the past.
“It is our collective believe that politics of honesty and integrity will always triumph over self-serving lies.
“The NYFA remains committed to supporting visionary leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who prioritise national development and the well-being of all Nigerians over personal ambition.”
