Atiku begs Nigerians to stop distracting President

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has hailed the return of President Muhammadu Buhari as a chance to move forward, begging Nigerians to help the president develop the country.

This was disclosed on Monday, August 21, 2017, by the media office of the All Progressives' Congress (APC) chieftain who expressed his delight about the president's return.

He said the president's return is an opportunity to move past the divisive issues surrounding his mysterious illness.

The President flew to London on May 7 to resume treatment for an illness whose secrecy divided opinions across the country. He made his return to the country on Saturday, August 19, to fanfare from his supporters in Abuja.

Atiku said Nigerians should unite behind the president and focus "on issues that unite us rather than those that divide us, and thereby distracting the President from attending to the tasks at hand."

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While also echoing the president's strong words on the uncompromising unity of the country, Atiku asked politicians to desist from promoting division in the country, saying, "a situation where Nigerians perceive one another as enemies rather than brothers who should be united by their common interests is unhealthy and inimical to our democracy."

While addressing the nation on Monday, the president spoke at length about keeping the country united, while cautioning against hate speech that might heighten tensions in the country.

He said, "In the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs, but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far.

"Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood."