FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of degrading Nigeria, saying that the ruling party did to Senate President Bukola Saraki what it did to the country.
In a statement issued by his Media office in Abuja on Tuesday, he praised Saraki for his decision to dump the APC, noting that the party had maltreated him.
Atiku urged the Senate President to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he said was the only party whose philosophy and ideology were conducive to Saraki’s leaning.
The statement said: “I received the news that the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, with great joy.
“Senator Saraki’s ordeal at the hand of the All Progressives Congress is all too familiar to lovers of democracy in Nigeria and around the world.
“Leaving a party which maliciously prosecuted him and subjected him to the most degrading treatment, notwithstanding his status as the nation’s number three citizen, took courage, and I commend him.
“What the APC did to Senator Saraki is what they have also done to Nigeria as a nation. They have degraded our democracy and our economy.
“Bukola Saraki is a product of the Peoples Democratic Party, under whose banner he became a Presidential Adviser, Governor and Senator. The PDP’s ideology and political philosophy is conducive to Senator Saraki’s political leaning.
“I therefore not only welcome Senator Saraki’s resignation from the APC, I also urge him to go one step further and join the only party capable of enshrining genuine democracy in Nigeria as well as lasting economic progress. I urge Senator Saraki to join our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“May God bless Nigeria and may God bless the PDP.”