Peaceful 2019 Polls: Atiku signs peace accord at last, after massive oppositions

*Atiku played a game with absence but failed – Respondent

“Go and continue to watch; any step that Atiku, chairman of his party, Secondus or Saraki that is his Campaign DG will take till the day of the election will reflect the resolution of their Dubai strategy meeting which, to me, does not include peaceful comportment at the polls. No one should make mistake,” the respondent said.

After massive opposition to hisnon-signing of a joint peace accord in ensuring that there will be no  violence before, during and after the 2019presidential elections, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, hasfinally separately signed his part of the accord.

The DEFENDER learned that presidential candidate of AlliedCongress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. ObiageliEzekwesili, who also was not at the signing on Tuesday when AllProgressives Congress (APC) and President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, amongother candidates were in attendance to sign their parts, had also signed.

The Atiku and Ezekwesili in separate visits on Wednesday signed the Peace Accord at the office of the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Abuja.

Atiku, while signing the peace accord, said that he is committed to free, fair and credible election.

He also commended President Buhari for signing the peace deal and urged him to sign the electoral act amendment bill into law to demonstrate his willingness to ensure free and fair elections.

Those who accompanied Atiku to the signing event include his running mate Peter Obi; the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus; former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel; among others.

Ezekwesili while signing the agreement also called on President Buhari to sign the electoral act amendment bill. She said this is the only way to assure Nigerians that he is ready for free and fair elections in 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other presidential candidateshad earlier on Tuesday signed the peace accord. However, the presidential candidate of the PDP and ACPN and some others were absent at the signing ceremony.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, explaining why the party was not represented said it was due to communication lapse between the NPC and its national secretariat.

Meanwhile, a member of the NPC, Matthew Kukah in an interview on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, insisted that Atiku was invited for the signing ceremony.

The National Peace Accord is convened byeminent Nigerians and led by a former Head of State, General AbdulsalamiAbubakar.

In the meantime, a respondent, who insisted not to be mentioned, said Atiku’s absence from the official sign scheduled day was a game plan by him and his party, which he said however has failed, arguing that it was untenable to provide the excuse of not being invited for his absence.

“Did Ezekwesili and Duke who did not come also adduce non-invitation like Atiku? No. So, don’t let us treat or confuse these matters together but must be treated separately,” he said.

He added that, “Go and continue to watch; any step that Atiku, chairman of his party, Secondus or Saraki that is his Campaign DG will take till the day of the election will reflect the resolution of their Dubai strategy meeting which, to me, does not include peaceful comportment at the polls. No one should make mistake.

“If you ask me, I will even say that his absence at the signing was part of the plot. This is because, with due respect to members of the peace committee, who among other parties witnessed what transpired when it was Atiku and his party alone that were present?”