Nigeria Content Online

Former vice
president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Atiku Abubakar said on Thursday that he and his team are ready
for dialogue, especially on the way to strengthen the party.

He, however, “vowed
not to succumb to any pressure and blackmail” over his reluctance to
congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan on his victory at the January
13 special convention of the ruling party.

Mr Abubakar in a
press statement signed by his media office in Abuja said he is
surprised that it has become a full time job of some people to force
his hand on the decision to concede victory to Mr Jonathan.

Speaking against
what he called the background of blackmail in the media by those he
described as “busy bodies,” the former vice president said the group
that put him forward for the PDP presidential primaries is prepared for
discussion but will not succumb to baseless propaganda against his
person and group.

“Instead of this
rigmarole by busy bodies, I believe that an appropriate response should
be to open a window for negotiation on how to strengthen our party for
the challenges ahead,” Mr Abubakar said.

He recalled that he
had informed the nation and his associates that he was consulting on
the outcome of the primaries and that whatever his position on the
presidential primaries was, it will be made available to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr. Abubakar noted
that with his campaign organisation, having forwarded its misgivings
about the irregularities that attended the primaries, the media and
those hiding under their cover should be patient enough to await the
outcome of its resolution.

He added that, “it
amounts to blackmail to force a man to take any action without
evaluating its effects on his group, loyalists, associates and
supporters.” The former vice president urged those who feel strongly
about the situation to open discussion with his group on the issues
instead of the now familiar harassment against him by political jobbers.

“If those who have won the so-called victory are confident of the genuineness of their victory, they should go on,” he said.

Mr Abubakar also
restated his commitment to democracy, rule of law, credible elections,
national unity, political stability, progress and development of
Nigeria just as he reaffirmed his entire campaign team’s unwavering
commitment and loyalty to the PDP and its noble objectives.

Mr Abubakar had
lost the presidential primaries to Mr Jonathan by 805 to 2736 votes.
The third aspirant, Sarah Jubril polled only one vote.