2023: Helping Solve Nigeria’s Challenges More Important Now – Atiku

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar says joining hands with others in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges plaguing the country remains uppermost in his mind as a well-meaning Nigerian.

He said efforts at tackling insecurity and economic downturn marked by joblessness and extreme poverty are major issues of concern rather than perceived plans for the 2023 presidential election.

Reacting to media reports on 2023 campaign posters featuring him and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Atiku described it as the work of mischief makers that should be ignored.

In a statement from his Media Office and signed by Paul Ibe said; “We wish to restate that the purported 2023 campaign posters in circulation linking Atiku to Soludo is the handiwork of mischief makers and should be ignored.”

The statement, which maintained that the former number two man is presently preoccupied with providing much-needed jobs and creating opportunities for Nigerians to come out of poverty, read in full; “Our attention has been drawn to reports in a section of the media of campaign posters of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and Prof Charles Soludo, an aspirant in the Anambra State governorship election in parts of Abuja.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the reports, but for the interest of those who may be misled by the disingenuous plot.

“We know nothing about the posters or those who may have promoted it.

“It is obvious that this is a work of mischief. For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar is of the PDP while Charles Soludo is of APGA. It is silly of anyone to attempt to drag the former Vice President into an election in Anambra which outcome will be determined by the people of the state.

“Atiku Abubakar is presently preoccupied with joining hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to help in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges plaguing our nation such as insecurity and economic downturn marked by joblessness and extreme poverty.

“That explains why last Monday, the Waziri of Adamawa commissioned the headquarters of Standard Micro Finance Bank and two manufacturing plants, promoted by him in Yola to provide much-needed jobs and opportunities.

“We wish to restate that the purported 2023 campaign posters in circulation linking Atiku to Soludo is the handiwork of mischief makers and should be ignored.”