Nigeria Content Online

Civil society
groups have called on former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to emulate
other People’s Democratic Party’s presidential aspirants by accepting
the verdict of the party’s national convention, held in Abuja.

Making the call
through a statement signed by its national publicity secreatry, Afam
Iheanacho, the Movement for Democratic Sustainability (MDS), a civil
society group, said the former vice president is sending a bad signal
of his desperation and bad sportsmanship in his remarks after the
primaries.

It said that even
as Mr. Abubakar has commended the PDP presidential panel for organising
a free, fair, and credible election, which he said, “indicates that the
wind of positive change is now blowing in that party,” he should also
see it as the best thing to do “to concede victory, congratulate Mr.
President, and join hands with others to unite the PDP.”

Mr. Iheanacho cited
instances of how Ibrahim Babangida, the former head of state, and Aliyu
Gusau, former national security adviser, who were both allies to Mr.
Abubakar, had both congratulated Mr. Jonathan and wished him success in
the race.

Emeka Obinagwu,
national publicity secretary of the National Vanguard for Democracy and
Development (NVDD), another civil society group, asked Mr. Abubakar to
stop further acts and statements that could heat up the polity.

Mr. Obinagwu, who
criticised the Atiku Campaign Organisation for its reluctance to accept
the resounding victory of Mr. Jonathan at the just concluded PDP
presidential primaries, said that “the PDP presidential primaries of
January 13, 2011 has been adjudged by both local and international
observers, the diplomatic community, local and international media as
free, fair and transparent, hence the strange silence of the Atiku
group is a big embarrassment to all lovers of democracy.

“We are shocked
that six days after the primaries the Atiku campaign group is still
searching for a clear statement to respond to the resounding victory of
Mr. Jonathan. What is coming from Atiku campaign is indicative of a
possible challenge of an affirmative, popular choice. It is sad. It is
unfortunate,” he said.

According to the
group, there was palpable tension in the country days to the primaries
and Nigerians in their millions heaved a huge sigh of relief when the
primary was concluded.

“Instead of another round of rancour and divisive statement, we
plead that the former vice president, for the sake of our nation,
allows peace to reign. He should avoid this indelible image of
desperation that is now hanging around him. Doing otherwise will be a
stigma that will stick with his name forever,” he added.