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Tag: Atiku Abubakar

  • Restructuring: Atiku, Mark, others under fire

    FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark are among other politicians chided yesterday by the All Progressives Congress for becoming latter day advocates of restructuring.

    The party accused the duo of Atiku and Mark, both presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of doing nothing on the matter when held top political offices for eight years.

    According to the APC, the call for the restructuring of the country has become an opportunistic ploy to which politicians latch on exploit for selfish political motives and not necessarily for its realism and practicability.

    Reacting to the renewed debate on restructuring by political office seekers, the ruling party urged Nigerians to be wary of those it called latter day converts to the matter of restructuring who are exploiting the issue for populist political campaigns.

    APC’s Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said in a statement that Abubakar and Mark held sway in government at various times, but did nothing on the issue of restructuring.

    Nabena said that what is paramount right now is the issue of good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism and a clear vision for development, adding that good governance involves transparency and prudence in public finance, it involves social justice, investing in the poor and providing jobs and opportunities for the people, particularly young people.

    The statement reads: “The renewed restructuring debate particularly between the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and one of his predecessors, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been trending in the media.

    “Prof Osinbajo in his well-articulated response to Alhaji Atiku, submitted that what Nigeria requires now is not geographic restructuring, but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism and a clear vision for development. The All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot agree more with Prof. Osinbajo.

    “It must be said that the calls for restructuring by many politicians is often time a populist and opportunistic ploy to latch on and politically exploit simplistic public narratives on the panacea to Nigeria’s problems and not necessarily for its realism and practicability.

    “For instance, Alhaji Atiku was Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council throughout the eight years of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. How did he use his office to correct the imbalance in our federation he expresses today? Senator David Mark was Senate President for eight years and never sponsored a motion on restructuring. Today he is promising to restructure the country.

    “We must be wary of latter-day converts to the matter of restructuring, exploiting the issue for populist political campaigns.

    “As Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo submitted, good governance involves transparency and prudence in public finance, it involves social justice, investing in the poor and providing jobs and opportunities for the people, particularly young people.

    “This remains the focus of the current administration as seen by the several social intervention programmes currently being implemented. Commendably, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to implementing a New National Minimum wage.

    “Also, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) scheme, comprising: GEEP MarketMoni, GEEP FarmerMoni and GEEP TraderMoni is being executed by the Bank of Industry and providing interest-free loans to petty traders and artisans across Nigeria.

    “With the inception of the President Buhari administration, a well-articulated roadmap, considering all the issues involved in ensuring a new, well secured, better governed Nigeria with equitable distribution of resources within the component federating units, is being given serious attention.

    “Recall that the APC set up a Committee on True Federalism under the Chairmanship of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. The Committee submitted its report to the immediate-past National Working Committee, making its recommendations on twenty four items that Nigerians expressed views to balance our federation.

    “These items are: creation of states; merger of states; delegation principle; fiscal federalism; devolution of power and resources between state, federal and local governments; federating units; form of government; independent candidacy; land tenure system; local government autonomy; power sharing and rotation; resource control; types of legislature; demand for affirmation for vulnerable groups — people with disabilities, women and youth; ministerial appointment; citizenship; state constitution; community participation; minimum wage; governance; judiciary; state re-alignment and border adjustment; circular status of the federation and referendum.

    “A practical approach to implement the Committees Report is being considered by the Federal Government.

    “The APC believes that good, sincere, focussed, and purposeful leadership at all levels will propel the country to its deserved heights. Sincere efforts towards achieving True Federalism are more important than politically-exploited populist rhetoric which achieved nothing.

    “With emphasis on practicability, constitutionality and reality, we are confident that True Federalism or restructuring as some will like to call it will be better achieved under the President Buhari-led APC administration.”

  • Atiku meets with regional leaders in Abuja

    …says Nigeria’s problems need urgent solutions

    Presidential Aspirant and ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday met with leaders of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum in Abuja.

    He is the first presidential aspirant to meet with the leaders of the regional group.

    The meeting is holding in  the house of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, at his Asokoro residence.

    The former Vice President said he decided to meet with the group because he believed that the problems plaguing the country needed to be tackled urgently.

    He said it was the responsibility of the leaders to meet and discuss the challenges confronting Nigeria and find solutions to them.

    “Nigeria is beset with a lot of problems. In fact problems that are so grave that they are likely, if we don’t move fast enough to curtail them, will bring about another national crisis.

    “It is our responsibilities as leaders to engage ourselves in meaningful discourse so that together, we can resolve the problems confronting this country.

    “Particularly, I will like to mention a few key areas where we need to pay attention. One is the structure of our country. Is it working? Is it what we want? At least it has been there for a number of decades. Maybe since the military incursion into our politics since 1966.

    “Is our economy working well? What of other sectors of our public life? Security. Are we secured? Is law and order protecting majority of people in this country? And of course we have the social sector to contend with. Those are problems as far as our educational, health systems are concerned. Even our infrastructural deficits. Count them.

    “And I think without interacting, exchanging views, and agreeing on how best we can resolve these problems whether as socio-cultural leaders or political leaders or leaders of the business community, I don’t think we will be able to resolve these problems,” Atiku stated.

    The President, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, John Nwodo, who spoke on behalf of the forum, said the group has decided to invite presidential aspirants on their plans to move the country forward.

    He said: “We have decided to talk with him since he has expressed desire to rule this country, to contest the presidency. We wanted to rub minds with him, to know his views so that by the time we finish this interactions we will be able to assure ourselves which one of them we think have the capacity to reflect our aspiration and rejig our country and bring it to where many will like it to be.

    “We want to see the people who want to represent us. We want to hear from them, we want to be convinced of their capacity to represent us.”

    Those present at the meeting include: Chief Ayo Adebanjo, John Nwodo, Yinka Odumakin, Amb. Godknows Igali,

  • Atiku’s allegations: Buhari not power drunk – Presidency

    *Says Buhari uncompromising against corruption

     

    The Presidency on Wednesday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari was not power drunk.

    A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, was reacting to allegations by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    But the Presidency agreed that President Buhari is uncompromising against corruption.

    The statement reads “Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, was quoted by a foreign news medium as accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of being “very uncompromising, also power drunk; (and) who will not be ready to leave power without a fight.”

    “Rather than use the name of President Buhari to buoy his bid to get the presidential ticket of a party, whose flag has been flying at half-mast since it got roundly trounced at the polls in 2015, the former Vice President needs be told that the President is truly uncompromising, but only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians, and squandering their riches.

    “President Buhari is uncompromising in the quest to restore probity and accountability to public office. He is uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre-2015, thus the war against corruption is being fought without fear or favour. The President is equally resolute in the determination to ensure that Nigeria is no longer a mono-economy, depending only on oil.

    “Yes, President Buhari is single-minded in effecting change in every area of Nigerian life. So, Alhaji Abubakar is right, if that was what he meant by the President being “uncompromising.”

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    “But power drunk? No! And being a man “who will not be ready to leave power without a fight?” Never! Not President Buhari, who has demonstrated in many ways that he is a committed democrat, though also a retired military general. He has no apologies about that. Through a sterling military career, he served Nigeria with his heart and might, before venturing into partisan politics.”

    According to him, President Buhari, in many ways, has wielded power with decency, and as a means of serving the people, rather than for personal ends.

    “If there’s one person not intoxicated by power, it is President Buhari, and scores of millions of Nigerians know this. That is why they will invest him with power again next year, knowing that he won’t misuse or misapply what has been entrusted to him.

    “Former VP Abubakar may want to borrow a leaf from the decorous language employed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in answering his recent press statement on the restructuring debate. That is the hallmark of statesmen, and not crying wolf where none exists, which is what the allegation of being uncompromising and power drunk truly is.

    “President Buhari is actuated by service to country, and nothing else. So, there couldn’t be anything like “not ready to leave power without a fight.”

    “Indeed, the insinuation of a fight is the mindset of a man who is either undemocratic, or has seen defeat staring him, and his party, in the face.

    “Let the former Vice President rest assured that there will be no ‘fight’ over power in Nigeria. Not under President Buhari’s watch. The people don’t want a fight. It is some political leaders we must beseech to eschew pugnacity, and mind their language.” he stated

  • Osinbajo tackles Atiku over comment on restructuring

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday replied former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of playing politics with restructuring.

    According to him, Atiku’s concept of restructuring was vague.

    This was contained in Osinbajo’s letter to the Editor of an online publication, PremiumTimes, with the title, “Re: Osinbajo got it wrong on Restructuring-Atiku”

    Osinbajo said that going by Abubakar’s description of restructuring, he appeared to have mixed up the issue of good governance and diversification of the economy with his argument on restructuring.

    He also faulted the former Vice President for not getting the full text of his comments before his public recital of his (Osinbajo) view.

    He said “Alhaji Atiku’s concept of restructuring is understandably vague, because he seeks to cover every aspect of human existence in that definition. He says it means a “cultural revolution”. Of course, he does not bother to unravel this concept. He says we need a structure that gives everyone an opportunity to work, a private sector driven economy. Yes, I agree.  These are critical pillars of our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), including our Ease of Doing Business Programme.

    “If, however, this is what he describes as restructuring, then it is clear that he has mixed up all the issues of good governance and diversification of the economy with the argument on restructuring.

    “Good governance involves, inter alia, transparency and prudence in public finance. It involves social justice, investing in the poor, and jobs for young people; which explains our School Feeding Programme, providing a meal a day to over 9 million public school children in 25 States as of today.

    “Our NPower is now employing 500,000 graduates; our TraderMoni that will be giving microcredit to 2 million petty traders; our Conditional Cash Transfers giving monthly grants to over 400,000 of the poorest in Nigeria. The plan is to cover a million households.

    “Surprisingly, Alhaji Atiku leaves out the elephant in the room – corruption. And how grand corruption, fueled by a rentier economic structure that benefits those who can use political positions or access to either loot the treasury or get favorable concessions to enrich themselves. This was a main part of my presentations at the Minnesota Town Hall meeting.

    “In arguing for good governance, I made the point that our greatest problem was corruption. I pointed out that grand corruption, namely the unbelievable looting of the treasury by simply making huge cash withdrawals in local and foreign currency, was the first travesty that President Buhari stopped.

    “I showed the OPEC figures from oil revenues since 1990. In four years from 2010 to 2014 the PDP government earned the highest oil revenues in Nigeria’s history, USD381.9billion. By contrast the Buhari Adminstration has earned USD121 billion from May 2015 to June 2018, less than 1/3 of what Jonathan Administration earned at the same period in that administration’s life. Despite earning so much less, we are still able to invest more in infrastructure than any government in Nigeria’s history. The difference is good governance, and fiscal prudence.

    “In the final analysis, restructuring in whatever shape or form, will not mean much if our political leaders see public resources as an extension of their bank accounts. This, I believe, is the real issue.” he said.

    Read Also: Atiku attacks Osinbajo on restructuring debate

    Describing the former Vice President as his illustrious predecessor in office, Osinbajo added “First, let me say that I really would have expected Alhaji Abubakar to at least get the full text of my comments before his public refutal of my views.

    “But I understand; we are in that season where everything is seen as fair game! He quoted me as saying that “the problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring… and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographic re-structuring”.

    “Yes, I said so.

    “As the quote shows, I rejected the notion that geographical restructuring was a solution to our national problems. Geographical restructuring is either taking us back to regional governments or increasing the number of States that make up the Nigerian federation.

    “As we all may recall, the 2014 National Conference actually recommended the creation of 18 more States. And I argued that, with several States struggling or unable to pay salaries, any further tinkering with our geographical structure would not benefit us.

    “We should rather ask ourselves why the States are underperforming, revenue and development wise. I gave the example of the Western Region (comprising even more than what is now known as the South West Zone), where, without oil money, and using capitation tax and revenues from agriculture and mining, the government funded free education for over 800,000 pupils in 1955, built several roads, farm settlements, industrial estates, the first TV station in Africa, and the tallest building in Nigeria, while still giving up fifty percent of its earnings from mining and minerals for allocation to the Federal Government and other regions.

    “I then argued that what we required now was not geographical restructuring but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism, and a clear vision for development.

    “On the issue of deeper fiscal Federalism or restructuring, I explained how the then Lagos State Government, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, decided to fight for greater autonomy of States.

    “As Attorney-General at the time, it was my duty and privilege to lead the legal team against the then Federal government, in our arguments at the Supreme Court. I am sure that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would remember these cases on greater autonomy for States that I cite below, as he was Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the time.

    “At the Supreme Court, we won several landmark decisions on restructuring Nigeria through deeper fiscal federalism, some of which our late converts to the concept now wish to score political points on.

    “It was our counter-claims alongside those of other littoral States that first addressed so comprehensively the issue of resource control. We agreed with the oil producing States that they had a right to control their resources. We argued, though unsuccessfully, that the Ports of Lagos were also a resource, which should enable Lagos State, in the worst case, to be paid the derivation percentage for proceeds of its natural resources.

    “Years later, we also filed an action at the Supreme Court arguing that the Value Added Tax, being a consumption tax, should exclusively belong to the States.

    “On the issue of who, between the Federal and State governments, should have authority to grant building permits and other development control permits, the Supreme Court, by a slim majority, ruled in our favour. It held that, even with respect to federal land, States had exclusive authority to grant building or other developments control permits.

    “In 2004, we created 37 new local governments in Lagos State. We believed that we had a Constitutional right to do so and that in any event, a State should have a right to create its own administrative units. Several other States joined us and created theirs.

    “The Federal government’s response was to seize the funds meant for our local governments, thus strangulating States like Lagos, which had created new local governments. We challenged this at the Supreme Court. The court held that the President had no right under the Constitution to withhold or seize funds meant for the States. The allocations were not a gift of the Federal Government to the States. They were the Constitutional right of the States and local governments.

    “The court also agreed that States had a Constitutional right to create local governments, pursuant to section 8 of the Constitution, but that the creation remained inchoate until the National Assembly, by resolution, amended the existing list of local governments to capture the newly created LGs.

    “In response, we created by State Law, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), to accommodate the newly created Local Government Councils until such a time as the National Assembly would complete the process. But the Lagos State Government took up the challenge to re-engineer its revenue service, making it autonomous. With innovative management, tax collection in Lagos became more efficient, and tax revenues continued to grow geometrically. Today, the State earns more IGR than 30 States of Nigeria put together!

    “Further, we contested the attempts of the then Federal Government to create supervisory authority over the Finances of Local Governments by the signing into law of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005. The Supreme Court also ruled in our favour, striking down many provisions of the law that sought to give the Federal government control over local government funding.

    “I have been an advocate, both in court and outside, of fiscal Federalism and stronger State Governments. I have argued in favour of State Police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function. You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja. Only recently, in my speech at the Anniversary of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I made the point that stronger, more autonomous States would more efficiently eradicate poverty.

    “So I do not believe that geographical restructuring is an answer to Nigeria’s socio economic circumstances. That would only result in greater administrative costs. But there can be no doubt that we need deeper fiscal Federalism and good governance.” he stated.

     

  • Only Atiku can restructure Nigeria, says Afenifere

    Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has reiterated its resolve to support the candidature of former Vice-President and frontline presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar, in 2019.

    The group made its position known yesterday when it hosted Atiku in Lagos.

    A leader of the group and prodemocracy veteran, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said Afenifere had taken time to screen the aspirants, and looking at the dossier of Atiku, there was a consensus that his desire for restructuring was genuine.

    He said: “You (Atiku) have been writing about restructuring over a decade ago. You gave me your commitment to restructure Nigeria within six months in one of our meetings years ago.

    “When people talk about good governance and promise good road, agricultural development and all that, we just laugh. There must be a country first before any development. Nigeria cannot have peace and stability without restructuring.

    “We know that there is no greater champion of restructuring from the North than Atiku.”

    Atiku said his commitment to restructuring was absolute, adding that his position once got him a query when he was the vice-president.

    “In all my political career, I have not seen Nigeria in a state of danger that may affect its existence as a country as at today. This is because – just like a house- if you get a faulty foundation that building is not likely to last. This is where we find ourselves.

    “As a vice-president, I came to Lagos then to discuss why we should restructure this country so that we can survive and provide leadership for West Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. That lecture earned me a query from my boss then. I can assure you that I will restructure Nigeria within six months of my administration,” he said.

    Present at the event were Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Prof. Akitoye, former Minister Adeseye Ogunlewe, among others.

  • Presidency: Atiku obtains PDP nomination forms

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, was emotional at his Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja yesterday shortly after obtaining his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms from the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Atiku, while receiving the forms from the Atiku Support Groups (ASG) which purchased the form for him, reiterated his commitment to the Nigerian cause and promised to do everything possible not to disappoint Nigerians if given the opportunity to rule.

    Speaking on the development, Atiku said: “The event today (purchase of nomination form) is significant and historic because this is the only time in my political career that young men and women in this country have come together without my knowledge or even consent to contribute their own hard-earned money to buy me an Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

    ”You could have seen that one of the ladies who spoke virtually succeeded in getting me to weep. This is because she aptly described the challenges every Nigerian is facing in this country today and she believed honestly and sincerely from the bottom of her heart that I could be an instrument of addressing those challenges.

    “So, for such a woman to believe that I have got those leadership qualities and including those of you who have brought out your monies to buy this form, is one of the most serious challenges I have ever faced in my political career.

    “And believe me, addressing those challenges  is possible because we have brought young men and women, Nigerians who have got the talents, who have got the education, who have got the experience, who have got all what it take to honestly turn this country around.”

    Atiku also attributed the slow pace of development in the country to the failure to harness the creative energies of young people by successive administrations.

    He said: “Putting together such talented  young Nigerians requires leadership and it is that leadership we have not been fortunate enough to have on a consistent basis that this country has not been able to take her rightful position in Africa and indeed, the world.”

    The Wazirin Adamawa at the event eulogised former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, on whose feet he learnt the rudiments of partisan politics.

  • Atiku faults Buhari on PIGB

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    In a statement on Wednesday, which he personally signed, the former Vice President said it was rather unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the bill as passed by the National Assembly.

    Describing the President’s action as a monumental mistake, Atiku said the reason given by the President for rejecting the bill betrayed the fact that the current administration is out of touch with global best practices.

    The presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the President’s claim that the bill would whittle down his powers was unfortunate.

    The statement said, “A leader must be secure in himself before he can secure his or her people. A President is not powerful because he holds the Presidency. Neither is he only powerful because laws confer powers on him.
    “In truth, a secure leader brings power and influence to the office he occupies instead of taking power from that office. He also gives laws the force of power by obeying and implementing them.

    “The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) will be a great catalyst for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and has the capacity of stabilising our host communities, boosting our reserves and creating the enabling environment that attracts the type of investment that will make Nigeria a world leader in the petroleum industry.

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    “In recent months, Nigeria became the world headquarters for extreme poverty, having overtaken India as the nation with the most people living under $2 a day (81 million people). If we are to change the situation and bring our people out of poverty, we must support legislation such as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    “As the late great President Ronald Reagan once said, the greatest leader “gets the people to do the greatest things”. The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill will help Nigeria to do great things and I urge President Buhari to put aside his insecurities over the loss of his power and let the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill be”.

  • Imo PDP Chieftains fight over Atiku’s visit

    …my ambition driven by patriotism-ex-VP

     

    Chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) including former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, member of House of  Representatives, Jones Onyereri, among others Wednesday clashed at the glass house office of PDP Board of Trustee (BoT) member, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu over the visit of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

    The aggrieved PDP Chiefs engaged Iwuanyanwu in a shouting match after he requested to have a closed door meeting with the visiting former Vice President who was on a courtesy call in his office before meeting with PDP stakeholders in the state.

    Read Also:I am not desperate for Presidency – Atiku

    Kema was particularly furious over Iwuanyanwu’s demand, describing it as embarrassing and selfish.

    According to her, Atiku was in the state to consult with PDP members and should not be hijacked by anybody.

    Shortly after the fracas which lasted for over 30 minutes, Ihedioha, Kema, Onyereri and their supporters stormed out of the meeting. All efforts to placate them by Atiku were abortive.

    Meanwhile, Atiku told journalists that the desire to move Nigeria forward has sustained his desire to be the President of Nigeria.

    The ex VP who came in the company of the Director General of his Campaign Organization and former Governor of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel and other members of his campaign team, said that he had the solution to the litany of challenges confronting the country .

    According to him, “patriotism is the key thing; it is the thing propelling my presidential ambition. I want to move Nigeria forward; patriotism is needed to move Nigeria forward.”

    He said he was in the state to consult the leadership of PDP in the state ahead of the party’s presidential primary.

    Responding, Iwuanyanywu said that he will not retire from politics until Atiku became president.

    The elder statesman stated that the country was in dire need of a leader like Atiku to develop the country.

    Iwuanyanywu said “I will not retire from politics until Atiku Abubakar becomes president. Atiku is the kind of President Nigeria needs. There is poverty in the land because of bad governance supporting Atiku is the best thing to do.

    “Igbo has been marginalized in this government and sadly some Igbo people are still supporting Buhari.”

  • Atiku denies ‘do or die’ statement

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a presidential aspirant under the platform of PDP has denied in strong terms a statement attributed to him that there would be consequences should the PDP fail to issue him the presidential ticket.

    The elder statesman was alleged to have boasted that the party has no option rather than giving him the mandate to be its presidential flag bearer or there will be no peace in the party.

    Reacting to the malicious statement making the rounds in some quarters of the media on Wednesday, a close ally to the former vice president Abdullahi Shuga explained that the statement was not only false but malicious, fabricated by political opponents to dent the image of his boss.

    According to him, such statement would never have come from a true Democrat who has for a long time sacrifice for the betterment of the nation’s democratic culture.

    He reminded that in 2007 when all the Governors of the federation stood by Atiku against Obasanjo to contest the Presidential seat, he revoked such offer on account that his party, PDP had an arrangement for a Southern President.

    “You should recalled that Atiku Abubakar was having all the opportunities to became President but because of his respect for stipulated rules laid down, he rejected the offer”

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    He further made it clear that all Atiku Abubakar is after is stability in the polity and the salvation of the Nigerian State from the present economic and socio political turmoils.

    “That is why you can see that Atiku is at the forefront welcoming all those whom have joined the party in recent times regardless of where they come from”

    Shuga hinted that the candidature of Atiku is for all Nigerians because as soon as he assumes office as President of the Nation, the Country would see a real change desired by all Citizenry.

    “Nigerians should believe in Atiku Abubakar he is a Man of tremendous values and sound character all aimed at making a better livelihood and a Country free of killings, maiming and destructions of human lives,” Shuga said.

  • Bindow condemns report linking him with Atiku’s rally

    Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has described as “malicious and false” an online report alleging that he gave N70 million to organisers of Saturday’s rally in Yola by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Bindow in a statement Sunday by his Special Adviser Press and Media Affairs, Mr Martins Dickson, said the report trying to portray him as engaging in anti party activities was cheap blackmail by those worried over his rising profile and that of APC in the state.

    “The publication is false, malicious, misleading and an attempt to mask the rising profile, good virtues and sacrifice of Sen. Bindow in upholding and promoting APC as the most popular party in Adamawa.

    “The authors of the fabricated lies have run out of substance with which to discredit him and have resorted to cheap blackmail and childish stories.”

    Read also: Gunmen kill 18 in Adamawa village raid

    The statement urged journalists and the media to always strive to verify their facts and be professional in their operation.

    “The good work of APC under Bindow is spread glaringly across the 21 local government areas of the state for all to see and there’s no amount of falsehood that will make anyone believe that a governor and party that have done so well in the state will be involved in any form of clandestine anti-party activity”.

    The statement reiterated the governor’s commitment to remain focused on fulfilling his campaign promises in line with his party’s manifesto.