Paul Ibe, spokesman to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of copying his principal.
He said this Wednesday evening after the presidency released a statement wherein President Muhammadu Buhari commended the appointment of Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch, a United Kingdom-born Nigerian as Minister of Children and Families by the new British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
Acknowledging that Badenoch’s appointment is a plus for Nigerians in Diaspora, Buhari said, “it further confirms my belief that with hard work and integrity, Nigerians can excel in their chosen professions and fields of endeavour anywhere in the world.”
The President, while also applauding Prime Minister Johnson for finding Badenoch suitable, wished her success in the new challenging role.
Atiku had released his own statement on the appointment hours after the announcement was made.
Tweeting his view, Ibe said: “Why APC is belly aching on behalf of @MBuhari
“Tuesday, @atiku congratulated @BorisJohnson for appointing British citizen of Nigerian descent minister.
“Today, @MBuhari grudgingly followed suit. Don’t belly ache, A comes before B
“By the way, #WhereIsBuharisCertificate?”
DAILY POST recalls that the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday suggested that Atiku was taking over Buhari’s duties and acting like the alternate president of Nigeria.
APC spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement, said Atiku was in the habit of issuing statement on matters “which constitutionally should be reserved for the duly elected head of government”.
Issa-Onilu noted: “We have noted Alh. Atiku’s incessant habits of releasing statements on public issues as if he were an alternative President of this country and with a clear intention to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led government.
“In recent times, Alh. Atiku has demonstrated lack of regard for the sovereignty of the office of the President and Nigerian government through condescending statements. He has made several of such statements regarding the activities of the Nigerian military, issues of national security, and international relations.
“The latest of such statements is the one he made on the emergence of Mr. Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of Britain even when our duly elected President, who has the responsibility of making an official statement on such matter, has made the position of our country known.
“We note with serious concern that Alh. Atiku has been throwing himself around as a shadow President of Nigeria. We would like to state clearly that such position could only be found under the parliamentary system; it does not exist under the Presidential system of government that we practice in Nigeria.
“Alh. Atiku, like every Nigerian citizen, should understand that being a candidate for an elective office, including that of the President, does not confer on him a sovereign status. Alh. Atiku’s continuous portrayal of himself as a shadow President under our system borders on felony and makes him a patent impostor. “
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