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N50M Bribe: Labour Party Describes Atiku’s Remarks As Improper, Reckless, Unfounded
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By Shojobi Abisola On Jan 29, 2025

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ABUJA: The Labour Party has taken a swipe at remarks made by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, alleging that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) offered 50 million naira to opposition party leaders to undermine the country’s democracy.

The opposition party in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Atiku`s words were “reckless, improper and unfounded.”

The PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections had on Monday at a national conference organized by various civic organizations in Abuja, accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of paying opposition leaders N50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

At the conference which was aimed at strengthening democracy in the country, Atiku cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk of collapse if urgent action wasn’t taken.

Atiku said, “I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.

“If we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government. Do we want to fight for democracy?”

Atiku lamented the erosion of democratic values, criticizing the current National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” for the government and raising doubts about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

He cited an example from Turkey, where the electoral body refused to declare a president-elect who fell short of the required vote threshold, as a benchmark of integrity Nigeria should emulate.

Calling for opposition parties to unite, he reflected on his decades-long struggle for democracy, noting personal sacrifices, including an attempt on his life, the seizure of his businesses, and exile.

If we don’t unite and take action, we may end up with no democracy at all. God forbid.”

However, the Labour Party through its Spokesman on Wednesday said it was unaware of any such bribe allegedly paid to the leadership of opposition parties.

The party also said its leadership has never received a dime from any individual, group, organization, or government who are not a member of the Labour Party.

The party has however expressed shock and disbelief by the revelation from one of the leading political figures and former vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that it would be improper for the politician to throw shade at the entire opposition without also putting forward a tangible proof other than a ‘gossip’ from an unnamed source.

We are shocked that a high-caliber politician who has contested elections all his life and is often regarded as a very experienced politician could make such a wild, unguarded, and unfounded statement.

Obiora said the Labour Party “has remained the strongest and most veritable opposition and which speaks truth to power; a party that led the most serious campaign in the 2023 general election and has been steadfast and has remained the voice of the people, we view that statement as demeaning, ignominious, reckless and a let down from someone like Atiku Abubakar.

“We want to put it on record that the Labour Party has run a frugal administration from funds internally generated, having not received support from our elected representatives. And in spite of the challenges the party has faced in the recent past, the leadership of the party has remained solid and committed to the ideals of the party.

“The leadership has not received any salary from anybody. Salaries are not hidden and it is not difficult to verify who and who are on the government payroll. It is a public document and it can be verified. We therefore advise Atiku to be circumspect and careful in generalizing certain allegations. We expect him to speak for himself and his party.

“The opposition is the oxygen of any virile democracy because it helps put the government in power in proper checks while also ensuring inclusivity in democratic participation. Democracy without opposition is an autocracy and it takes a lot of sacrifices to sustain opposition.

“It is therefore frustrating and unpatriotic when leaders who ought to know better, begin to derive joy in denigrating the opposition camp and making jests of their sacrifices.

We are therefore calling on Atiku Abubakar to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations without which Nigerians will be forced to take every other of his statements with a pinch of salt and be politically motivated.”

https://independent.ng/n50m-bribe-labour-party-describes-atikus-remarks-as-improper-reckless-unfounded/