The Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that, as the nation goes into elections next month, the attitude of the security agencies is of serious concern.
According to him, the general election is a contest between the Peoples Democratic Party, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the security agencies.
Speaking on a national television monitored in Abuja, Saraki said, “That gives me concern because if you look at the number, the number there is not supporting APC’s victory. They are so relaxed and if you see the actions of these security agencies, all Nigerians must have concerns.”
Saraki, however, said he was confident that Nigerians were determined about their choices.
“Nigerians have seen that in 2015, as a country, we made some improvements; we showed we had matured and we could handle our elections properly. Election is bigger than anybody. The image of the country went up in 2015 and we can’t afford to have an election where security agents will prevent people from voting. We can’t afford to have an election where security agencies will be arresting the opposition a day before without any reason. We have gone past that as a country. We are a leader in the continent and in the World.”
Speaking further, Saraki said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari had failed on its key promises of improving security and the economy.
He said, “From a country that had insecurity in one zone, we now have insecurity in three zones. So, whichever statistics you want to give, the fact is there for itself. People have lost lives there in the North Central, which was not there in 2015. The people have lost lives and cannot go around in the North West, which was not there in 2015. I believe that the campaign should not be based on sentiment; it should be based on what we see.
“For a government to say it has fulfilled all the promises, which promises? Have they secured the lives and properties in the zones that were peaceful before?
“Secondly, you talked about economy; they promised Nigerians they would create more jobs but we have lost more jobs. Close to 20 million jobs were lost. So, how have you performed?
“Look at the economy; today, Nigeria is regarded as the World capital of poverty. And finally on corruption, it is more of propaganda than reality.”
