Lobbying US govt, not solving Atiku’s integrity problem – APC spokesman

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has said that lobbying the United States of America on entry visa to the country will not solve the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) flag bearer in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s integrity problem. The PDP presidential candidate said recently that he will privatise some national assets to enhance efficiency and boost the economy if elected president. However, Nabena in a press statement on Sunday said: “One is not surprised at Atiku’s declaration, as the sale of national assets to proxies and associates is his main motivator for the office of president. “One thing readily comes to mind, Atiku as the country’s Vice President under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration from 1999-2007, presided over the National Council on Privatization, overseeing the sale of lucrative public enterprises such as Nigerian Airways, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (Nitel), NICON Hilton Hotel. It is on record how Atiku sold these juicy national assets to family members, friends and associates. Of course the country became economically worse for it”. The party spokesman said the former vice president is still in the same economic arrangement adding; “Atiku and his reconciled boss former President Olusegun Obasanjo plans to return Nigeria to, a second time. “Nigerians have been impoverished by selfish and corrupt leadership who mortgage their commonwealth for their personal gains. Enough is enough! These are the reason Nigerians rejected PDP and all it represents in 2015. Once beaten, twice shy. Nigerians have been severally beaten by the PDP and they do not wish to have a repeat. “Lobbying the US Government to grant Atiku visa does not solve his integrity and image problem. The pertinent questions remain: Was Atiku’s wife, Jennifer involved at his behest in Illegal financial transactions in the US”, he queried. “Were the transactions investigated? What was the result of the investigation? Was the US citizen caught in the web of the corrupt dealings jailed in the US? If the answers of these questions are in the positive, Atiku is definitely not fit, proper and credible to present himself for leadership of Nigeria come 2019”, Nabena noted. Tom Okpe, Abuja