*Reveals plans for Wike, governors’ security votes, others

Ahead of the next year’s election, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Nigeria needed strong leadership to address its challenges.

Atiku stated this Sunday while featuring on Channels Television, People’s Townhall, a special programme for 2023 presidential candidate.

The ex-nation’s number tow man who featured alongside his running mate and Delta state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said when elected as president, he would deploy technology to tackle insecurity.

Speaking on the general state of the nation, the former vice president said he cannot understand why there should be Boko Haram in the country. 

“I don’t think I have seen Nigeria in such a situation since the civil war. There are challenges in almost all aspects, the economy, security, and poverty rate continues to increase.

“We need people who have the experience, record and knowledge to take us out of the challenging situation. That I believe makes me unique. I have the experience, record, and knowledge to turn things around for Nigeria, he said.

On insurgency, Atiku said: “I still don’t understand why we should have Boko Haram. I still cannot find the area in Borno state where anyone can hide. Where is the Boko Haram thriving. 

“We have the Nigerian soldiers and we cannot eliminate Boko Haram. The solution is strong leadership,” he said.

Speaking on the security challenge in the South-east and the South-south, the former VP promised their government would negotiate with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as well as militants and other insurgent groups to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

Atiku stated that “every geo political zone has its security challenges.”

He said IPOB which is agitating for Biafra cannot secede through violence because the nation cannot afford another civil war.

Atiku said he believed in negotiation with the agitators as well as devolution of powers which would give them a sense of belonging.

“I believe we should be able to negotiate with the agitators. We believe that what they need is autonomy that is why we are proposing restructuring. I believe devolution of powers is the solution to their agitation. There is no one single geo political zone that can achieve political power without crossing the Niger,” he said.

On how to use technology to address security challenges, he said: “I admire the United Arab Emirate security system, because you won’t see police or security personnel on the street, but virtually everyone is being monitored through the deployment of technology. 

“The fact that you are being monitored will discourage you from committing a crime. So, I will deploy technology to address this. We will also reform the current security structure”.

Security votes

On security votes given to state governors monthly, Atiku blamed the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s inability to ensure governors account for it.

He said: “Security votes have been there for a while. I will not cancel it. I will advocate for accountability of the security votes. So, I will ensure that the governors account for security votes.”

Also responding to a question on the economy, Atiku said one of the factors affecting the value of naira to dollar and scarce forex is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) multiple exchange rates.

He said: “I will direct CBN to stop multiple exchange rates so that we will be able to close that gap between the naira and dollar.

“We will also encourage foreign investors to bring forex from abroad. So, if we are able to do that we will be able to make forex available to as many people as possible.”

Speaking on the proliferation of light arms, the former vice president said: “Again, a few years ago, 2007, I set up a committee to help me find solution to Niger Delta militancy. When I didn’t win, I handed over the document to Yar Adua, the amnesty was the result.

“What has happened today, they have not implemented one project. They have not been able to do the east west road.”

On Wike, education, subsidy, TraderMoni, others  

Speaking on the face-off and simmering crisis in the PDP, the ex-VP confirmed that he had met the Governor of River state, Nyesom Wike, several times to mend fences with him without success.

He also said Wike was not on his side and would therefore be waiting for him at the field.

Giving his takes on programmes such as TraderMoni and Market money among others, the PDP presidential candidate said he would institutionalise the programmes instead of allowing it to be diverted into political parties.

Answering a question from Ali Baba, a veteran comedian who asked of the candidates’ plans for the entertainment industry, Atiku said: “I have a written agreement with creative industry. Recently I had a meeting with the creative industry. Agric is number one in adding to GDP followed by the creative industry. I had a meeting with them and committed myself in developing the creative industry. You can be rest assured that you have a friend in Aso Rock.”

On subsidy, he said when he was VP, they proposed to remove subsidy in four phases but only implemented up to the second phase and stopped.  

 “I have already announced that we are going to remove subsidy. We have started the discussion how to end the subsidy regime. By June next year, subsidy will stop as passed by National Assembly.

Speaking on the education sector, Atiku stated that the buck of funding schools stops at the states and local governments’ table. 

“All we can do is to create enabling environment for the states and local government to ensure that education is funded and ensure they access the counterpart funding.

“I’m going to increase the funding level; I’m also committed to clearing ASUU’s backlog to ensure they go back to school. When the FG releases money to university, it doesn’t go straight to them, we must find a way to ensure that fund gets to them,” he said.

On free and compulsory education for people living with disability, the ex-VP stated that “there is already a law that ensures free and compulsory education for every Nigerians child. 

“The sub national governments are not cooperating. We are ready to give more funding to states and LGAs, but are you ready to hold them accountable? 

On why he is bent on selling national assets, he said: “We have four refineries and they have ceased to function but we still budget money to them. We should give it to private persons to run them to create employment.”

On alleged persecution of Christian minorities in the north, Atiku noted that “all minorities are being persecuted; it depends on where you find yourself. Most of these are the responsibilities of the sub nationals. By the time you have adequate security, they should be able to resolve these issues.”  

Okowa too

Complementing Atiku’s position, his running mate and governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said the agitators saw themselves as being excluded and not part of leadership of the country.

He said their administration would embark on massive employment to get the nonstate actors to drop their weapons, adding that bringing development to their doorsteps of the militants would solve the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta.

Okowa said: “Once the right leadership is provided, militancy will disappear. People feel disadvantaged, they feel excluded. When Atiku becomes president. People will be given sense of belonging, there will be full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and we will have efficient NDDC.” 

On Tinubu’s wealth

Also speaking through one of his aides, the former VP challenged Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, to provide further insight into the source of his wealth.

He spoke against the backdrop of an interview the APC granted the BBC Focus on Africa Tuesday, during which the former Lagos state governor said he “inherited” real estate which contributed to his wealth, even as he likened himself to the United States billionaire, Warren Buffet.

But in a statement Sunday by his special assistant om public communication, Phrank Shuaibu, the former VP described Tinubu’s explanation as hogwash.  

He said: “Obviously thrown off balance when the BBC reporter asked him to disclose the source of his stupendous wealth, APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, responded by asking, “Are you an enemy of wealth?” He subsequently told a fable of how he inherited properties and also traded stocks like Warren Buffet. This is complete hogwash.

“Interestingly, Tinubu had told a Lagos State House of Assembly committee that was set up to investigate his academic records in 1999 that he could not complete secondary school because his family was too poor.”

“So how did Tinubu, whose family was too poor to send him to school despite a free education policy at the time, inherit properties from the same family? This is obviously balderdash. Tinubu would do well to stop comparing himself with Warren Buffet….,” it further said.

“On the other hand, Atiku Abubakar’s source of wealth has never been in doubt. The ones he has listed publicly include: NICOTES (now Intels) founded in 1989; Prodeco, 1996; Atiku farms, 1982; and ABTI schools, 1992. Some of these companies like INTELS have had reputable Nigerians like the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and even traditional rulers on its board. We dare Tinubu to list his companies and source of wealth as Atiku has done,” the statement further added.

Tinubu cautions on ex-VP 

But the APC standard bearer has urged Nigerians to be wary of the many promises of the PDP candidate, describing them as “fake history at its worse.”

Tinubu said Nigerians are not fool and “should also not be fooled about the boldfaced lies, being articulated by the candidate and his party.”

The PDP presidential candidate had his campaign rally in Abuja at the weekend where he promised to unite the country, turn around the economy and ensure prosperity of Nigerians, among others.

But in a statement Sunday in Abuja, Director of Media & Publicity APC Presidential Campaign Council Bayo Onanuga, the APC presidential candidate wondered whether PDP and his candidate can ever be a recovery vehicle for Nigeria, “judging by its old record of service, when it spent $16 billion on power that only resulted in worsening darkness?

“Can the party ever be a recovery vehicle when it also midwifed  the privatisation of power distribution to cronies, also leading to more darkness.

“We need to warn Nigerians to be wary of the sugar-coated promises of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and his Peoples Democratic Party as they embark on their inordinate and desperate campaign to gain power at all cost.

“A party that should be eternally shameful about its appalling record in governance between 1999-2015 is now busy rewriting history, embellishing the locust years as if it was a golden era in our history.” 

He further said: “What is more shocking is Atiku’s audacity in standing up to ask for our votes despite what his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote about him in his book, ‘My Watch’. Obasanjo wrote that it would have been an unpardonable mistake “and sin against God to foist him on Nigeria”. Obasanjo still believes so till tomorrow.

“Aware that this is his last shot at the elusive presidency, Atiku, while on the hustings, has been spewing series of lies, making empty promises and presenting a false narrative about our present reality and the legacy of the 16-year ignoble era of the PDP administration, of which he was a principal actor.

“He claimed at his rally in Abuja on Saturday that the country is not secure for trading and farming, a false narrative that he has been pushing around for some time, since he relocated to Nigeria from his base in Dubai, principally to contest the election. 

“We believe in his private moment that Atiku will concede that his view about insecurity is exaggerated. Our country is certainly better secure than in 2015 when the PDP allowed insurgents to seize 17 local councils in Borno and some four councils in Atiku’s home state of Adamawa State, when Abuja was under constant bomb attacks and people slept with eyes wide open.

“What further proof of progress made by the APC does Atiku need than the fact that he was able, recently, to carry his party men and women to Maiduguri to hold a rally, without any attacks by insurgents and bandits. Atiku can also drive smoothly from Yola, his state capital to Jada, his home town on a reconstructed road by the Buhari-led APC administration. The road was impassable for 8 years Atiku was Vice President and got progressively bad and totally cut off from civilisation until the Buhari government reconstructed it.

“Atiku claimed that our country has the highest number of out-of- school children in the world, without telling his audience that the problem, which was exacerbated by banditry in North West and insurgency in North East, took its root from the stewardship of his party when the population of out-of-school children phenomenally rose from 10.5 million in 2010 to 13.2 million in 2015.” 

“Our advice to Nigerians is to ignore anything Atiku Abubakar says. He is a bloody liar and a desperate politician who should never be trusted,” the statement added.(Blueprint)