Irked by corruption allegations that constantly trail his personality, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his traducers should come up with concrete proofs of such misdemeanors or forever hold their peace.
According to him, “It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office,”
Similarly, the former deputy to Olusegun Obasanjo said his vast experiences in public and private sectors have placed him on a high pedestal to fight corruption given the opportunity to govern Nigeria as President.
He said with an uncanny ability to build a proficient team to deliver on any task, “I will shock everyone because I believe that I will fight corruption like never before,”
The APC bigwig said in a press statement by his media office in Abuja that it is unfortunate people “who have no initiative, personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation, always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing.”
The statement said Atiku, who spoke during a facility tour of the new ultra-modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja on Monday, said, “People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them.”
The Waziri Adamawa stated that it is morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion, adding that though no law court has convicted him of corruption in Nigeria or elsewhere, his political enemies have refused to back off from their fake morality aimed at fooling gullible Nigerians.
He said, “Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities.”
Responding to the welcome address by Chairman/CEO of Yaliam Press Limited, Yahaya Ali Amfani; the former Vice President said on his bed rest during training as a Custom Officer, he had pasted a reminder of retiring from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40. Being able to attain the position of Deputy Director only, he had to exit in 1989 to pursue a business career.
Proudly claiming that he retired from the Customs Service with a clean record, the Waziri Adamawa told the Yaliam Press’ management and staff that he is challenging those accusing him to produce evidence of corruption against him as a Customs officer or Vice president.
Insisting that he has been a successful investor throughout his retirement life before becoming Vice President in 1999, the Waziri Adamawa said, “If Atiku is a thief merely because of his resourcefulness and successful investments, my political enemies should tell Nigerians the sources of their own stupendous wealth.”
He urged the Yaliam Press management and staff to manifest the values of honesty, hard work and diligence, which are great attributes that stood him in good stead during his years as a public servant and entrepreneur.
