Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Nigerian vice president and presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, said over the weekend that what Nigeria needed after President Muhammadu Buhari’s seven years of ineptitude was a leader who could bring unity in diversity and encourage people to respect and accept each other despite their differences. Nigeria, Atiku remarked, needs a “unifier, not a pacifier.”
He spoke exclusively to THISDAY in the first in a series of presidential interviews the newspaper is conducting.
The former vice president went on to suggest that the South-east should focus on what can’t be lied about, which is his record, and “my attitude toward them.
They have a history with me.
He didn’t waste any time pitching his campaign and vision, but he discounted rumors that marabouts predicted he’d be president one day as the reason he’d clung to the goal so tenaciously. He admitted that the report had taken him by surprise as well.
“I think after seven years of incompetence, Nigerians just want competence,” Atiku stated, addressing some of the concerns characterizing the nation’s situation on the road to 2023. They don’t care where it comes from.
“The issues we confront today have heightened our awareness of the importance of electing leaders based on their ability rather than their location or religion.
Nigeria need a unifier rather than a pacifier. Unity will bring us peace. “Peace will not bring us together.”
“That is a fallacy,” Atiku said of insinuations of a groundswell of opinion against his recurrent presidential aspirations, particularly accusations that people are tired of seeing his face on the ballot. To borrow your term, there is no groundswell. There are people with loudspeakers, but they do not represent a groundswell.
“Some of these folks are making appeals for emotional and historical reasons, and one must be attentive to them.” That is why I have consulted all around the country and will continue to do so. I believe in the added politics. “I am not a politician who subtracts.”
“Of course it is in order,” he said in response to growing support for a Nigerian president of South-east ethnicity in 2023. Have you forgotten how zealous I was in my support for the Southeast? Take a look at my resume.
“What the South-east needs to realize is that people’s records are more important than their rhetoric.” I implore my dear people of the Southeast to concentrate on the one thing that cannot be lied about: my record. My perspective on them. “I have a history with them.”
“Even I am shocked when people bandy about these types of beer parlour stories,” Atiku added, dismissing claims that marabouts had a part in his presidential bid. I am a practicing Muslim.
Anything less than absolute obedience to God’s will is against my ideals.
“That is a fabrication concocted by my political opponents to attain whatever goals they desired.” That’s the same as saying Reagan and Churchill tried again and again because they were aided by soothsayers. It might be of interest to you to know that I was elected governor after four failed tries. It is a virtue to be tenacious. It isn’t a vice at all. It is something to be proud of.”
“I merely believe that no guy should be a judge in his own case,” Atiku said in response to calls for a consensual approach in picking the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate. Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
“The North picked that route in 2010-2011. The aspirants, on the other hand, did not choose a consensus candidate on their own. It was the area in question. The Northern Political Leaders’ Forum, led by the late Malam Adamu Ciroma, was one of them.
“If the North as a region wants that choice, our natural leaders and elders should lead the way.” Partisans should not be promoting it. If it gets to that point, it could turn into a poisoned chalice.”
“I will add this: the Peoples Democratic Party, of which I am a founding member, should focus on winning, not on zoning!” Atiku stated in response to the zoning debate.
“Please allow me the liberty of rephrasing your question,” he remarked when asked why he still wanted to be President of Nigeria after five “failed efforts.” I’d rather say, after a few of tries. As I already stated, they were not unsuccessful attempts.
“By 2022, Nigeria will be the world’s most impoverished country and the world’s third most insecure nation.” Our economy remains stagnant, despite the fact that our population is growing.
“You can plainly see my achievements if you look at my record in government, where I was chairman of the National Council on Privatization and a coordinator of our economic management team under President Obasanjo’s leadership.”
“If we are to alter the tide, such accomplishments must be emulated.” It’s almost as though providence pushed me out this time to do what God had previously enabled me to achieve.
“We created jobs.” Nigerians are unemployed at an all-time high. Nigeria’s foreign debt was paid off. Nigeria is presently more in debt than it has ever been before. We were able to maintain relative calm thanks to our policies and inclusiveness.
“Nigeria is currently in a state of insecurity. My curriculum vitae or resume appears to be tailored-made to match the issues we now confront as a country.”
“Thank God you stated allegations,” Atiku said of the corruption allegations leveled against him. Anyone can make a claim.
You are aware of the country’s history as well as my personal experience. All of that is now history. However, what I will say is that
Despite the fact that I am Nigeria’s most investigated politician, no charges have been brought against me. Regarding the claims leveled against me, I have obtained a clean bill of health.
“That should be enough to tell you something.” It’s a powerful statement. My political opponents’ only weapon against me is false accusations, knowing that my plans are sound, my ideology is solid and secure, and my ties to Nigerians are strong. My only response is that I have been exonerated and absolved of all of them by a court of law.”
