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Tag: atiku

  • Mark, Atiku mourn deceased Emir

    Mark, Atiku mourn deceased Emir

    Senate President David Mark has described the death of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, as a big blow and a monumental loss to the nation, just as former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, descriced the monarch’s death as the loss of a father.

    Mark noted that the late first class monarch was a great asset who will be missed by all in many respects.

    Reacting to the demise of the monarch in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, the Senate President lamented that Bayero departed at a time his wise counsel would have been needed to navigate through the nation’s trying times.

    Mark said: “He was a peace maker. He made Kano home for all. He was accommodating. He preached love, unity and good neighbourliness. He was a detribalised leader who made the nation his constituency.”

    He recalled that the late Bayero was among the few Nigerian leaders who worked hard for the unity and indivisibility of the nation, especially during trying times.

    He added: “His contributions to the peace and unity of Nigeria cannot be wished away. The nation owes him a measure of gratitude for his contributions to the socio- political and economic development of the country.”

    Atiku in a tribute said their relationship spanned over three decades.

    Bayero, he added, was not only loyal to the people of his immediate domain, but also to Nigeria and humanity at large.

    He said Bayero was a pious, humble, upright and honest man whose integrity was unparalleled. He recalled that promoting unity and tolerance was one of the late emir’s greatest and unforgettable legacies.

    He recalled the contributions of the late Emir to Nigeria during the January 15, 1966 political crisis, a role which he said earned him the respect of the late Dim Chukuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu.

    “The respect Ojukwu had for Ado Bayero, a quintessential bridge-builder, was a significant message about the role Bayero played to hold back Nigeria from the brink of disaster,” he said.

  • Ado Bayero’s integrity unparalleled – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined other Nigerians to mourn the passage of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

    He died in Kano on Friday at the age of 83.

    In a statement issued on Friday by his media office, Atiku said “I have lost a father,” stating that his relationship with the late Emir was that of father and his favourite son, which he said, spanned over three decades.

    Expressing pain over the monarch’s demise, Atiku said he knew that death was coming the late Bayero’s way (like it would for every mortal), but not in agony and humiliation because the late Emir did not deserve it.

    He noted that Ado Bayero was not only loyal to the people in his immediate domain, but also to Nigeria and humanity at large.

    According to Atiku, Ado Bayero was a pious, humble, upright and honest man whose integrity was unparalleled.

    He added that the Emir’s death has robbed the nation of a noble crusader of unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

    The former Vice President recalled that promoting unity and tolerance was one of Ado Bayero’s greatest and unforgettable legacies.

    According to him, Nigeria had lost a crusader for peace, stability and unity at a time his services were still badly needed by the country.

     

  • My rift with Obasanjo over, says Atiku

    My rift with Obasanjo over, says Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the rift between himself and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo is all over, re-iterating that he harbours “no hatred or enmity” against his former boss.

    A statement released and signed by the former VP’s Media Office read that he spoke on Tuesday in Abuja when he granted audience to the leaders of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum, a group that recently embarked on a mission to end the rift between the former President and his deputy.

    The release stated further that the team, led by Comrade Eliot Afiyo, had weeks ago met former President Obasanjo in Ota, at which event he announced that he had forgiven his former vice president.

    He was quoted to have said: “I don’t harbor any grudge against my former boss. Yes, we had disagreements in office. These were mere disagreements. I harbor no hatred or enmity against him or anybody. I never had anything against him and I will never have,” Atiku said while responding to the group.

    He explained that in politics, he has opponents, but no enemies. “Politics is not war,” he emphasized.

    Atiku thanked the group for successfully brokering peace between him and President Obasanjo, adding that this single effort had marked the leaders of the youth organisation as serious-minded people who are fully prepared to take over the leadership of the country from their seniors.

    Meanwhile, Atiku reflected on the current security situation in the country appealing to the Federal Government to take the challenge more seriously. “If we can go to other countries to rid them of these kinds of problems, it shows that we have the capacity to put this one down immediately so that the suffering of the people can be reduced.”

    In an earlier speech, chairman of the group, Comrade Afiyo described Atiku as an “honest and forthright leader, a courageous and dogged democrat, a loving and compassionate guardian, an accommodating and caring shepherd and a role model.”

    He expressed happiness and satisfaction with the joint decision by both Obasanjo and Atiku to accede to their request to bury the hatchet, adding that this is a development that will go a long way in healing the rift in the country.

  • Atiku condemns Jos blasts, seeks all-party conference

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar,  has condemned the Jos blasts, describing the perpetrators  as the greatest enemies to peace and unity of the country.

    The former vice president canvassed an all-party conference aimed at forging a united approach to dealing with the spate of insecurity in the land.

    Reacting to the latest bomb blasts in Jos, which reportedly killed over 118 persons and a similar incident in Kano where about five persons were killed, Atiku said the persistent terror violence against innocent people was embarrassing and intolerable.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Atiku advised Nigerians not to despair nor succumb to terrorists’ blackmail, aimed at paralysing the country with fear and hopelessness.

    Saying the intention of the terrorists was to turn Nigerians against one another, the former vice president said terrorism is an act of deliberate provocation.

    “They intend to throw Nigerians at one another’s jugular and, thereby destroying every positive gains of the country since independence and amalgamation,” the statement added.

    He advised Nigerians not to play into the hands of the terrorists by allowing themselves to be provoked into fighting one another.

    He called on politicians to be united in condemning terrorist attack against innocent people, adding that terrorists enjoy dividing public opinion in order to justify their atrocities.

  • Oputa: An Iroko has fallen – Atiku

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the late retired Supreme Court Jurist, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa , as an extraordinary jurist with extraordinary pedigree.

    In a tribute to Oputa issued by his media office in Abuja on Monday, Atiku said the death of the retired eminent jurist was like a huge branch being cut off from the nation’s judicial iroko tree.
    According to him, apart from his extraordinary courage, the late Oputa was also a man of profound knowledge on account of which he was famously branded the “Socrates of the Supreme Court.”
    He stated that for Oputa to earn this appellation from colleagues, was a demonstration of his erudition and colossal stature.
    Atiku recalled that with no fewer than 358 judgments and rulings under his belt, the late Oputa was a giant of law not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.

     

  • Atiku hails workers’ sacrifices amid tough times

    Atiku hails workers’ sacrifices amid tough times

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar, has extolled the patriotism, sacrifices and unbroken faith of Nigeria workers in the face of tough times.
    In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office in Abuja on the occasion of the Workers’ Day celebration, Atiku said workers are the greatest assets of every nation, stressing that the human capital is the pivot around which development revolves.
    He acknowledged the perseverance and the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian workers in the face of grim and tough challenges of economic survival.
    The former vice president explained that the weakened purchasing power of the workers might naturally affect morale, but urged them to soldier on and not to lose hope.
    Atiku advised political office holders to recognize the country’s economic realities before paying themselves salaries and allowances.
    According to him, such salaries and allowances must reflect the economic and social conditions of the workers and other struggling Nigerian citizens.
    He also advised governments at all levels to pursue job creation with greater vigour, adding that unemployment is a menace for any society because it breeds unpleasant consequences.

  • 2015: Group endorses Atiku

    2015: Group endorses Atiku

    Despite the agitation for a president of Igbo extraction in 2015, a Southeast political pressure group, the Turaki East Alliance (TEA), has urged Nigerians to support the clamour for the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s President next year.

    It said it is the solution to the leadership challenges confronting the nation.

    The group explained that its endorsement of Atiku followed the consideration of his contributions to the promotion of unity and religious tolerance in the country.

    “He has proved to be a detribalised Nigerian who could be trusted to carry whole country along,” TEA said.

    The group’s National Coordinator Comrade Peter Akubuo said TEA’s action was influenced by the need to draft a progressive democrat into the presidential race to salvage Nigeria’s democracy.

  • 2015: Group endorses Atiku for President

    2015: Group endorses Atiku for President

    Despite the agitation for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2015, a Southeast based political pressure group, the Turaki East Alliance (TEA), has called on Nigerians to support the clamor for the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s president in 2015, describing it as a solution to the leadership challenges confronting the nation.

    The group with membership strength of over 100,000 noted that the endorsement of Atiku, was influenced by the judicious consideration of his contributions to the promotion of unity and religious tolerance in the country, stressing that, “he had proved to be a detribalized Nigerian who could be trusted to carry the whole country along.”

    The national Coordinator of TEA, Comrade Peter Akubuo, said that the action of the group was influenced by the selfless need to draft a progressive democrat into the Presidential race to salvage the nation’s democracy.

    He maintained that Atiku’s endorsement by the group stemmed from his credibility and steadfastness, which he said has made him stand out among other aspirants.

    According to him, the former Vice President, is a detribalized Nigerian who should be supported for the interest of the much desired Igbo presidency, adding that Atiku has been in the fore front of rotational presidency in the country.

    Akubuo disclosed that the group after their general meeting held at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo state capital, appealed to Atiku to join the presidential race without further delay, stating that, “he is a detribalized Nigerian who detests cheating and believes in the spirit of fairness. The posters have been pasted in the whole Southeast states. So we will not rest until he declares for president.”

    According to the Coordinator who revealed that the group had commenced door to door sensitization of Ndigbo on the need to support the Atiku Agenda, said that Atiku is the right person the country needs at the moment especially as it is faced with myriad of problems.

    Meanwhile, the Presidential campaign posters of the former Vice President yesterday flooded strategic locations in the Southeast states.

    In Imo state, the posters with the inscription “Alhaji Dr. Atiku Abubakar the hero of Equity, Justice and Fairness” were pasted overnight at strategic places across the state capital.

    Akubuo disclosed that the posters were pasted simultaneously across the Southeast states.

  • An eye for an eye will make Nigeria go blind – Atiku

    An eye for an eye will make Nigeria go blind – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the olive branch extended to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness in the interest of national unity.

    In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja Monday, Atiku said ‘’forgiveness is divinely inspired and is an oil that lubricates the wheels of continued human interactions and engagements.”

    The former Vice President commended Obasanjo, his “former boss for taking this bold and Godly step in the interest of the nation and humanity.’’

    According to Atiku, the process of national healing and reconciliation should advance to a new level and extend to other citizens of our great nation, who may have had grievances against one another.

    He urged politicians to learn from the words of Mahatma Ghandi that an eye for an eye will make our nation go blind.

    “When I made a similar effort few years ago, it was on the conviction that it would not be beneficial to me before Allah, if I went to the grave with bitterness. Let us forgive one another so that we can team up for national rebirth,’’ Atiku urged Nigerians.

    He maintained that even if one disagrees with Obasanjo, no one would doubt his firm commitment to the unity of Nigeria.

  • Atiku cautions against use of soldiers for elections

    Atiku cautions against use of soldiers for elections

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the policy of deploying soldiers in supervising elections in order to protect their neutrality and exposing them to undue politicisation.

    Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday with the unprecedented security challenges brought on by terrorism, the nation’s military should be allowed to concentrate on its immediate tasks and challenges so as not to lose focus.

    “The attention of the military should not be diverted to politics when terrorists are posing the greatest threat to our national security,” Atiku said.

    Speaking apparently in respect to the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun states, former Vice President Atiku explained that the frequent deployment of soldiers to supervise the conduct of elections may potentially affect its credibility.

    Atiku recalled that the militarisation of President Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa prior to the last governorship election had left a blemish that is difficult to erase in the annals of the country’s young democracy.

    He stressed that in the absence of extraordinary emergency situation, there is no justification for dragging soldiers into politics.

    He noted that gun-wielding soldiers at polling stations obscure the new democratic order in the country and that any interaction between soldiers and politicians at political activities such as voting would not be good for any democracy.

    The former Vice President, however, said an adequately equipped and well motivated police could maintain law and order at polling stations during elections.