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Tag: atiku

  • Atiku declares for presidency today

    Atiku declares for presidency today

    •Southwest APC caucus endorses bid

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will today declare his presidential ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    His declaration is, however, coming against the backdrop of his bid to be endorsed by a Southwest caucus of the party.

    A statement by his media office in Abuja said the former Vice President would make his formal declaration at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja at 10am.

    According to the statement, the activities marking the declaration would be a largely youth-focused event to emphasise Atiku’s passion for the challenges facing young men and women in the country.

    Youth economic empowerment is one of Atiku’s cardinal objectives because he regards them as the fulcrum around which the development and future of the country revolves, the statement noted.

    “In particular, the former Vice President is concerned about the alarming youth unemployment and he focuses on his policy objectives on the development of entrepreneurial skills for our youths so that they don’t have to depend entirely on the limited, if not elusive government jobs,” the statement added.

    A caucus of the APC in the Southwest has endorsed Atiku as the presidential candidate of the party.

    The caucus, known as the Atiku Abubakar Collectives, spoke at an interactive session with Atiku yesterday.

    The group, whose members were drawn from the six states of the Southwest and Kogi State, and led by Chief Bode Ajewole, said its endorsement of Atiku was predicated on the former Vice President being the most experienced among the likely contenders for the party’s ticket.

    Ajewole said: “Atiku has shown that he has the capacity to restore the unity, peace and prosperity of our great country.

    “At such a time like this when our country is at the threshold of disharmony, fuelled by mutual suspicion along ethnic and religious line, we need a strong leadership. A strong leadership by a bridge-builder; someone who understands the intricate nature of our geo-politics and strengthens the bonds of our unity as a people who share a common hope in a Nigeria for all Nigerians.”

    The Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Prof. Babalola Borishade, said it was important for supporters of Atiku to engage everyone within the APC and mobilise support for Atiku to emerge as the standard-bearer of the party.

    According to him, “our focus now is how we win the primaries of the party. In doing so, we have to thread very carefully. The strategies for each state are different. I understand that some of you are national delegates of the party. But what is important is to build the momentum in the party that will make our candidate emerge victorious and avoid being confrontational with other contestants. We should make sure that the party stands united during and after the contest for the presidential ticket.”

  • Boko Haram: FG’s deliberate ploy to cause instability – Atiku

    Boko Haram: FG’s deliberate ploy to cause instability – Atiku

    The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the state of insecurity in Nigeria caused by the Boko Haram insurgency was a deliberate ploy by the Federal Government to cause instability in the country.

    Atiku spoke on the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, which was monitored by our Correspondent in Kaduna Tuesday.

    He said, “This thing (insurgency) almost came up during our time, but we crushed it in less than a month.

    “We have a military that is known and respected the world over for peace keeping. If the military has the right leadership and the required arms, they can end this insurgency. But the government is promoting this insurgency for selfish reasons.”

    While responding to question on whether he had the solution to end the crisis if elected President, Atiku said “it would not be impossible,” adding that  he had advised the President on how to end the crisis in the past, but the  advices were never taken seriously.

     

  • Atiku, Adeboye, others to honour Shitta- Bey

    Atiku, Adeboye, others to honour Shitta- Bey

    Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the General Overseer of The Redeemed Church of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye and juju music maestro Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, are expected to attend the service and reception to mark the 80th birthday of All Progressives Congress’ (APC) chieftain, Chief Rasheed Shitta-Bey, on Sunday.

    The Chairman of Shitta-Bey Birthday Committee, Olawale Oguniyi, said the event will witness the formal inauguration of R.S. Shitta-Bey Foundation, especially in support of health sector, especially the eradication of Ebola epidemic.

    He added that a health expert will speak about the virus and how to combat its epidemic.

  • Atiku: I’m angry, upset about Boko Haram

    Atiku: I’m angry, upset about Boko Haram

    •‘INEC defective in conducting free, fair poll’

    Former Vice President and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, said yesterday in Abuja that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is defective in conducting free and fair elections.

    He also said members of the party canvassing an automatic ticket for candidates are afraid of primaries.

    Speaking with reporters at his home in Abuja, the ex-Vice President said asking him not to contest the presidential election is like asking him to give up on Nigeria, adding: “I cannot give up on Nigeria because I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

    On the insecurity in the country, he said: “I am absolutely upset and angry with this insecurity situation. I don’t believe that as a country, we have done enough to secure this country. These bunch of Boko Haram insurgents have been operating for nearly four or five years now. Knowing Nigeria, we pride ourselves as having the best armed forces on this continent.

    “I really don’t know where things went wrong. Is it the armed forces or the political leaders? I just can’t believe what is happening. I am not in a position to explain it because I am not in government. But I don’t believe that this is a situation that Nigeria would not have dealt a very fatal blow within three to six months.

    “I remember that when we were in office, such a group wanted to emerge in Yobe State and we smashed that group completely within a couple of weeks. That such a group should be allowed to operate for four or five years in this country and even saying they have occupied part of the country, hoisting flag and nobody is doing anything is unbelievable.

    “Please help me ask them what is wrong because I am very upset and angry about this development. When I visited the son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, I said I wished I were a young man. I would have gone to the front to fight. It is unbelievable, what is happening.”

  • INEC cannot conduct free, fair poll – Atiku

    INEC cannot conduct free, fair poll – Atiku

    Former Vice President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive a Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, said Tuesday in Abuja that the  independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently constituted is defective and cannot conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    The former vice president also said that members of the party canvassing for automatic ticket for particular candidates are afraid of electoral contest, adding that the issue of automatic ticket is a foregone conclusion within the party.

    Speaking with journalists at his residence in Abuja, Tuesday, Atiku said that asking him not to contest the presidential election is like asking him to give up on Nigeria, saying, “I cannot give up on Nigeria because I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

    He said: “I think those canvassing for automatic ticket are scared of contest. There is nothing to be scared of in a contest in a democratic setting. How can you canvass for automatic ticket in a democratic process? There is thing like that. These are people who are afraid off contest.

    “I can assure you that there will be nothing like a one man show. Even at the last convention, the offices that were not contested for were not up for election and election took place for those offices that were contested. We stayed there throughout the day till the following day when results were announced.

    “I have already said that there is nothing like automatic ticket and that those asking for automatic ticket are definitely scared of a contest.

    “You know that the APC is an amalgamation of a number of political parties that came together, relinquishing their identity. But having been constituted, the APC cannot escape an elective primary. There is no zoning for you to say there should an automatic ticket and there will be no allocation like they do in the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “So, on what basis?”

    On zoning, Atiku, who is expected to formally declare his presidential ambition soon said, “As far as zoning is concerned, we don’t have zoning in the constitution of the APC. So, the race is open for everybody. That is why you hear that the Rochas Okorochas are also contesting. So, we don’t have zoning in the APC like the PDP. It is entrenched in their constitution which has been violated as far as zoning is concerned.”

    While describing the APC as a better alternative to the PDP, the former vice president said “So far, the internal democracy we have practiced in the APC is a better alternative than what is being done in PDP.

     

  • Adamawa poll: Atiku calls for stakeholders’ meeting

    Adamawa poll: Atiku calls for stakeholders’ meeting

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an urgent meeting of stakeholders in Adamawa State to ensure a free and fair governorship election on October 11.

    In a statement yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said the meeting was necessary in view of the need to maintain security and the fear that the emergency rule in the state could disenfranchise the people.

    Stakeholders expected to meet include political parties, security agencies, the state government, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society groups, election observers, religious and traditional rulers.

    Atiku said a report by NOI Polls revealed that 55 per cent of adult Nigerians and 72 per cent of those surveyed in the Northeast want the emergency rule imposed on three states in the region lifted during the 2015 elections.

    Atiku said the proposed meeting would come up with modalities for ensuring a free and fair election under emergency rule in Adamawa State, adding that Adamawa could be used as a fore runner of the 2015 polls.

    Stressing the need for tight security in the state, he, however, said emergency rule may make it impossible for residents to vote.

    The Turaki Adamawa said it would hinder free movement and association, such as political rallies.

    He said the emergency rule in Adamawa calls to question the level playing ground the government is supposed to provide for parties participating in the election, since the Federal Government is also an interested party in through the participation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Atiku stressed the need to address these issues before the October 11 election in the interest of democracy, justice and fair-play.

  • Photo: Buhari, Atiku

    Photo: Buhari, Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and General Muhammadu Buhari at the 50th birthday lecture in honour of former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday.
    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and General Muhammadu Buhari at the 50th birthday lecture in honour of former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday.
  • Atiku to Muslims: pray for unity

    Atiku to Muslims: pray for unity

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged Muslims to pray for the end of insecurity.

    In an Eid-el-Fitri message marking the end of the Ramadan fast, the former vice-president regretted that terrorists had shed so much blood in the name of religion.

    The Turaki Adamawa urged Muslims to pray God to defeat and destroy evil doers masquerading as champions of religion.

    According to him, the dark agenda of terrorists defies any clearly defensible goals and their activities contradict the tenets of Islam, including the sanctity of life.

    Atiku advised Muslims to join hands with other Nigerians to defeat the terrorists’ agenda of trying to provoke sectarian crisis by attacking places of worship.

    The former vice-president said the terrorists spared neither Muslims nor Christians, adding that Nigerians should unite against them “so that we don’t play into their hands by helping them to achieve their agenda of seeking to divide and dismember our dear country by causing deliberate provocations”.

    He said the nation’s security agencies should be ahead of the terrorists by nipping in the bud the plots of the evil group.

    Atiku advised Nigerians to assist security agencies through vigilance and providing useful information that can enhance their efficiency to deal with insurgency and other criminal activities in the land.

  • Atiku to PDP: stop demonising opposition

    Atiku to PDP: stop demonising opposition

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration against demonising the All Progressives Congress (APC) before Nigerians.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Atiku described as dangerous the attempts by the PDP-led government to polarise the country along faulty lines just to score cheap political points.

    The former vice-president faulted the escapist tactics of the ruling party, adding that it was shocking that the ruling party could divert the attention of Nigerians from its ineptitude and apathetic posture to corruption and insecurity to waging a war against the opposition.

    Reacting to a sponsored report in a weekly newspaper, alleging that a former Russian spy had linked the APC to terrorists and extremists, Atiku said the sponsored allegations by the PDP administration would not help the country.

    According to him, no responsible government would seek to create divisions, suspicion and animosity among the citizenry by linking opposition leaders with terrorist activities or accusing them of harbouring extremists.

    Atiku said it was regrettable that the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, officially and publicly labelled the APC the “Islamic Brotherhood Party of Nigeria” and the “Janjaweed Party”.

    The former vice-president said the names were borrowed from abroad and did not exist in Nigeria.

    He said the latest publication about the purported former Russian spy was a continuation of the PDP’s campaign of calumny against the opposition and its leaders to divert attention from the epic failures of the ruling party to deliver the goods.

    Atiku was dismayed by PDP administration’s tactics to drive a wedge between the people by using a religious divide-and-rule blackmail to seek re-election in 2015.

    The former vice-president stressed that the greatest challenges facing Nigeria today are insecurity, hopelessness, hunger, unemployment, disease, fear of the future and poverty.

    He said: “The APC is a party for all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, ethnic or regional identities. Let no one get confused. The APC is the party to stop the looting of the treasury.

    “We will thoroughly investigate and uncover whatever is missing of the alleged $50 billion stolen from the sale of crude oil. We are going to stop the government-backed theft of crude oil, which swings between the daily averages of 100,000 to 300,000 barrels a day. APC is the party to create jobs and end joblessness.”

  • Nyako: Atiku cautions PDP against excessive use of power

    Nyako: Atiku cautions PDP against excessive use of power

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned against the excessive use of power by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led federal government, a tendency, which he said, was not good for decent democratic practice.
    Atiku, who was reacting to the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, said in a statement by his media office in Abuja that wielding the axe of impeachment against elected public office holders to settle scores by the PDP-led federal government would needlessly build up tension in the country.
    The former Vice President said the reckless use of impeachment to settle scores could not have been the intention of the framers of the 1999 Constitution.
    He said the frequency with which elective officials were being shot down by impeachment would destroy the whole purpose of inserting the impeachment clause in the Constitution.
    He regretted that the use of impeachment to harass and humiliate perceived opponents by the PDP-led federal government would ultimately bastardize the spirit in which the constitution provides for the impeachment clause.
    The former Vice President admonished the PDP-led federal government to take it easy in the way they use power, adding that the constitution was not meant to provide ammo to anybody to harass and humiliate opponents or force them out of office.
    He deplored the use of financial inducements to influence the removal of perceived opponents from office. According to him, triumphalism in the suppression of opponents is a bad omen for democracy.