Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to fight corruption like never before if given the chance to preside over Nigeria’s affairs.
Atiku also challenged those he described as his self-righteous political enemies to either prove his alleged corrupt activities or keep quiet.
The
APC chieftain said this during a facility tour of the new ultra-modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja on Monday.
This was contained in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja.
Atiku was quoted as saying,
“he would fight corruption like never before if he is given the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the country.”
The former Vice-President said, “It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.”
He noted that people who lacked initiative, personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation, “always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing.”
“People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them,” he added.
Atiku said it was morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion.
The Waziri Adamawa explained that though he had not been convicted of corruption by any court in the land or elsewhere, his political enemies had been parading a fake morality to fool gullible Nigerians.
He was equally quoted as saying, “Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities.”
Atiku recalled that he had pasted a reminder on his bed side during his training as a Customs officer that he would retire from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40.
He said that he was only able to attain the position of a deputy director before his exit in 1989 to chart a career in business.
Atiku told the management and members of staff of Yaliam Press that he retired from the Nigeria Customs Service with unblemished records.
He challenged anybody who had evidence that he stole a kobo at the Customs or during his tenure as vice-president to confront him with evidence or file a petition against him.
Atiku said he did not become a Vice-President in 1999 as a pauper because he had been a successful investor throughout his retirement life.
He said,
“If Atiku is a thief merely because of his resourcefulness and successful investments, my political enemies should tell Nigerians the sources of their own stupendous wealth.”
Atiku charged the management and members of staff of the company to manifest the values of honesty, hard work and diligence. These attributes, he said, stood him in good stead during his years as a public servant and an entrepreneur.
The former Vice-President said he was well equipped to fight corruption because of his vast experiences both in the public and private sectors and his ability to build a team capable of accomplishing the task.
“I will shock everyone because I believe that I will fight corruption like never before.”
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