Citizenship: Atiku silent on birth place, reels out achievements

PDP presidential candidate  Atiku Abubakar has responded to the APC claim he is not a Nigerian by birth.

Abubakar would not trace any family tree, or as he said, dignify the ruling party with a response. He would rather list his political, and buisness credentials in Nigeria

He however insisted his citizenship is not in debate, according to statement on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe.

The All Progressives Congress, in its defence at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal had insinuated that Atiku is not a Nigerian but from Cameroon.

 “The position of the APC is so pedestrian and shows such straw-clutching desperation on their part, that I shall not dignify it with an answer. Our lawyers would, of course, do the needful in court,” he said.

“But the point I want to draw the attention of Nigerians to is that both the APC and its candidate have by this infantile logic admitted to the fact that they trampled on the will of Nigerians and that their only defence is to attempt an unconstitutional redefinition of the term ‘Nigerian’.

“I am, however, confident in the Nigerian judiciary, as well as in the Nigerian people. I trust that the Tribunal will treat such a claim with the contempt it deserves. We must maintain our fidelity to the rule of law and to our fountain of origin, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).”

He added,  “Atiku Abubakar has served our nation diligently in various capacities, from the civil service, where he rose through merit, to the top of his chosen field, to public service, where, by the grace of God, he was the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.