I’ll Not Have Sought Presidential Nomination If Nigeria Is Working – Atiku

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Former Vice President and presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said that he would not have been seeking the Party’s nomination to run for the office of the President if Nigeria is working.

This is just as he expressed sadness that 11 million Nigerians have become unemployed since May 29, 2015, adding that the figure does not include the millions more who never had a job since leaving school.

Atiku, who stated these on Thursday while submitting his Presidential Nomination Forms at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, also said that it weighs deeply in his heart that Nigeria has become the world headquarters for extreme poverty according to the World Economic Forum and the World Poverty Clock. 

The former Vice President further said that he is not happy that Nigeria is perceived to be more corrupt today than she was in 2015 having moved 12 steps backwards, from 136 in 2014 to 148 today, in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

In his words; “136 is bad enough; 148 is simply unacceptable and shameful especially under a government that claims that fighting corruption is its priority.

“I am not happy that there are so much killings and terror across the country that the Global Terrorism Index rates Nigeria as more terrorised today than she was in 2015. 

“I have created thousands of jobs in my private businesses and I know how to lead a government that would do the same for Nigeria,” he enthused.

The PDP Presidential aspirant said today marked his first step to lead the efforts to move Nigerians from extreme poverty to prosperity, from joblessness to employment, from senseless killings and fear to security, from so much division to being united around a shared vision and values, and from global irrelevance to a shining place in the comity of nations.

He said; “I ask all PDP Delegates and indeed all Nigerians to join me at this sober moment to spare a thought for our country and to consider working with me to get Nigeria working again. This a step into our future.

“Let us work together to create the right conditions for investments to flow in and flourish to create jobs for our people.

“Let’s work together to send poverty packing. Let us, together, reduce corruption so that our resources will be deployed to our national priorities. Let us work together to fight all types of terrorism and other crimes. Let’s work together to restructure Nigeria for better governance and to unite our peoples. Let’s get Nigeria working again.

“This is a somber moment for me. Today marks the beginning of my journey, our journey together, to get Nigeria working again”.