2019: Atiku explains why he didn’t perform under Obasanjo, speaks on looting public fund

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has explained why he performed
below expectation the last time he was in government as a Vice
President.

Atiku also said that anyone with evidence that he stole or built his
investment on public funds should come forth with such.

The former Vice President said that Nigerian constitution did not give
him the powers to execute projects, adding that he lacked the powers
to execute official projects of his own initiative while in office.

He said he had limited capacity to deliver even on some lofty projects
designed for his own state in Adamawa while he served with President
Obasanjo.

Atiku said this on Tuesday while speaking to journalists on arrival at
the Port Harcourt International Airport in continuation of his
consultations to Bayelsa and Rivers States for his 2019 presidential
bid.

Atiku, who is a PDP presidential hopeful, pointed out that the
administration he served in as Vice President awarded contracts for
the Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Tongo and Yola-Mubi-Maiduguri roads in
Adamawa State in its first term.

He said that there was supposed to be a spur of the road linking
Mambilla in Taraba State and thereby making it the shortest cut to
Mambilla but execution of these projects were delayed and later
truncated on the altar of politics.

Atiku said allegations that funds meant for road projects in the state
were diverted to build the American University of Nigeria in Yola was
being unfair to him, and that "it shows lack of understanding of how
government runs on the part of the people making such allegations.
Government does not run on such pedestrian level, it is a process."

He maintained that all the money used for setting up the first
development university in Africa came from private sources.

"To set the records straight, no public funds were involved in all my
investments in several sectors that have continued to provide jobs and
enhance educational and socio-economic well-being of Nigerians. I have
always been contented with what God has given to me in all its
ramifications and I thank Him for using me to better the lot of the
people.

"Without being immodest, I was a successful businessman before going
into politics and subsequently becoming the Vice President by Allah's
Grace. I was not desperate to be in government in order to make money
but to serve the people in my own little way and contribute my quota
to its overall development."

Atiku asserted that he was the most investigated Vice President in
Nigeria, and challenged "anybody with evidence linking public funds to
the AUN or any of his private investment should come forward to prove
that."

Atiku lamented that some people do not appreciate individuals who
create wealth by their personal initiative and resourcefulness but
rather hold contrary views with the stigma of such possessing
ill-gotten wealth.

He said that it was wrong to assume that one can't succeed without
stealing public funds, noting that it is well documented that he
(Atiku) had made a success of his businesses before he was tapped as
Vice President.

"If money was my motivation for seeking elective office, I would not
have joined the presidential race at any point in time in my political
career. My ability to make money through my businesses was established
long before I was chosen as Vice President," he said.

He stressed that passion for service, and the desire to bring
efficiency in the management of government affairs are the main
reasons he wants to run for President.