Former Vice President amen presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent move to ban 50 high-profile politicians from leaving the country.
In a statement issued by his campaign organization, Atiku stated that the ban is “a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats”.
The statement also notes that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and of association, and such constitutional rights can only be taken away by a court order.
The statement reads further, “We must be unequivocal in saying that we abhor any act of criminality, financially or otherwise, but the rule of law must be our guide at all times or society will descend to anarchy.
“Thus, we find it most undemocratic that in a nation governed by the rule of law, a President who swore an oath to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, does this.”
“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and freedom of association. This Constitutional right cannot be taken away except by a court order. This sudden dictatorial act is a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats. It is precisely this type of draconian orders that have chased investors away from Nigeria and it is precisely why Nigerians will chase this recession friendly government away from power on February 16, 2019, so we can begin the job of Getting Nigeria Working Again.”
The ban has been condemned by many Nigerians including Femi Fani-Kayode whose name is also included on the list.
