Atiku alleges smear campaign

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday expressed concern over what he described as the upsurge of smear campaigns by faceless politicians and their groups against his person.

He, therefore, warned that he might resort to legal action against them and their agents.

A statement by the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation in Abuja, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, said Atiku’s attention has been drawn “to a carefully orchestrated and well-funded expansive programme to smear the image of the former vice-president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party and his family.”

Though the statement was silent on the contents of the campaign materials, it however said that “the smear campaign against Atiku through newspapers (online and hard copies), text messages, emails, posters and pamphlets, among others is the handiwork of political opponents, who are mortally afraid of Atiku’s political ascendancy,” according to the statement.

He said he would not be deterred in his commitment to an issue-based campaign that would focus on the concerns and welfare of Nigerians and the future of the country.

“It is most unfortunate that these politicians will not take on Atiku on the issues of governance and welfare of Nigerians, which he has made the hallmark of his campaign,” he said.

Atiku said that formal complaints have been lodged with security agencies to identify the faceless sponsors of the campaigns and called on Nigerians to dismiss the campaigns.

While noting that his lawyers have taken legal notice of these smear campaigns, he equally warned that he would not hesitate to drag any telecommunications company that makes itself available for use in the publication of these libellous materials against him and his family to court.

“We challenge the sponsors of this campaign of calumny to show courage, put their faces and names to the claims and substantiate them. Anonymity and cowardice are not attributes of leadership. Those who lay claims to leadership should not be afraid to stake the basis of their claims in public,” he added.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101028284546