Atiku Challenges Buhari Over Etisalat, Keystone Bank Shares
- Atiku activating depression mode – APC
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to come clean of allegations over the current shares’ ownership of Etisalat Nigeria and Keystone Bank Plc.
He has also charged all anti-graft and relevant agencies to probe and unravel those behind the multi billion Naira telecoms giant and the financial institution in line with the government’s mouthed integrity and transparency agenda.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to Atiku Abubakar on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu, instituting such a probe is necessary given claims in public domain that members of Mr President’s family currently own considerable shares in Etisalat Nigeria, which has an “estimated $2 billion (about N727 billion at 360 per dollar) of its estimated $20 billion global net worth.”
Also, the PDP candidate said he was shocked at reports that the first family is now a big player in the nation’s financial sector after acquiring appetizing shares in Keystone Bank, with total assets of $1.916 billion (about N307.5billion).
Similarly, it fingered Buhari’s family members in the alleged purchased of shares worth about N3 billion in the new Pakistani Islamic Bank (PIB).
The statement further said; “I know that last week was turbulent for President Buhari and I apologise for adding to his woes, but as he is insistent on the myth that he is spotless and anti corrupt, if this is found to be true, this scandal would break every rule of corporate and public governance, since this will be the first time members of the first family will be openly involved in a once-in-a-lifetime deal that would make them all richer beyond their wildest dreams.”
However, in a swift reaction to the allegation, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Atiku Abubakar is already showing early signs of depression over his failing presidential campaign outings.
The governing party said due to mounting frustration and inability to gain public confidence, Atiku is now resorting to mudslinging and unable to focus on his campaign.
The statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Nallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC said; “The PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is exhibiting early signs of depression, resulting from obvious frustration. Consequently, he is unable to focus on his campaign. Otherwise, he should tell Nigerians why a discredited person like him should be elected as President instead of raising puerile allegations on a daily basis.”
“President Buhari and APC, not his programmes for the country, appear to be his main campaign issues. Nigerians are desirous of campaign that focuses on issues that matter to them. For Atiku and his PDP co-travellers, the only interest is to grab power and continue where they stopped in their avarice”, the statement said.
It further added that the Buhari administration “is eager to showcase the impressive achievements we have recorded in the last three and half years. This is the campaign that matters to us and this is what Nigerians are interested in.
“The trajectory is exciting as we see a brighter future shaping up. We won’t yield to the PDP’s shenanigans. The obvious strategy of the PDP is to truncate the country’s journey towards economic buoyancy and social stability. We will not play the PDP’s game”.
The governing party also accused the opposition PDP of acting out a script that was anti-people, saying the President remained unshaken by the efforts of Atiku and the PDP to demonize his administration.
“PDP is acting an anti-people’s script. President Buhari remains unshaken by the desperate efforts being made by Atiku and the PDP to blackmail the APC government. Everyone who was involved in corrupt practices would be brought to justice.
“PDP is not offering any alternative to the progressive course this government is pursuing. It is actually apparent that the party is not contesting the 2019 elections to redeem itself, least of doing any good for the country, but simply to seize power to escape justice for the grievous crimes committed against the people of this country. Nigerians won’t be fooled by the rapacious PDP gang. Never”, the APC, spokesman said.
