Time for Change? What Change was Mr. Atiku Abubakar talking about? To some political analyst, this change may have something to do with new beginning or end of an era. But whichever way, lets first introduce the man of the moment- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku Abubakar was born in Nov, 25, 1946 in Adamawa State into a poor but entirely not wretched family. Atiku was privileged to acquire western education at a tender age. A reason he found himself in the Nigerian Custom, where he worked and retired after some 25years of money hunting and looting accomplishments.

Moreover, Atiku’s political career started with Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later with People’s Democratic Party PDP where he was elected between 1999 and 2007 (8years period) as vice-president of Nigeria, alongside with former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Back to the contention, between 2007 and date, Atiku like a directionless ball has migrated politically to more than three political palaces. From PDP to ACN, ACN to PDM, back to PDP and now APC. As some will rightfully argue, any place is home for a confused, desperate power hunting and naive personality. And on this, Mr Atiku cannot be faulted.

According to Mr Atiku, in his highly celebrated forth presidential declaration speech just yesterday he said;
“Regardless of the loud and lavish political propaganda, deceit, official impunity and unjust applications of powers of patronage and sanctions by the PDP administrations, let me assure you that our party remains strong and capable of fulfilling the nation’s thirst for change.”

This is grossly unbelievable! Atiku Abubakar was Vice-President for 8years in the yester night PDP government. What kept him in that government when it was cleared to him that the PDP is grossly corrupt? Why is he just telling Nigerians about these corruption acts of the PDP? As the second citizen of this country between 1999 and 2007, what was Mr. Atiku doing to rescue the nation from impeding future disarray? In addition , if Atiku could agree that “PDP Administrations” was full of loud and lavish political propaganda, deceit, official impunity and unjust applications of powers, then , this article is already being vindicated that Mr Atiku’s declaration lacks real credibility and just a mere political avowal. Nonetheless, the APC’s aspirant may also be suffering from mental doddering, or should we say he has now repented? But if so, let him come out openly to ask for our forgiveness, for those billions stolen and kept in his forth wife’s account in the US and those atrocities committed while with the Nigeria Custom Authority.

If Atiku was truly a star as he claimed to be, why can’t the former President (Olusegun Obasanjo) endorsed or supported him in his bid for the presidency in 2006/2007 political sessions? In Mr. Atiku’s claim;

“I worked closely with my boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also a passionate defender of Nigerian unity. We re-integrated our country into the international community following years of isolation; we professionalized our armed forces; we embarked on fundamental economic reforms articulated by an Economic Team, which I had the honour to chair. We focused on macro-economic stability and transforming critical areas such as banking, insurance, oil and gas, telecommunication, pension and the Civil Service. We created novel institutions that should lay the foundation for good governance and accountability such as the Bureau of Procurement (Due Process), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), SERVICOM, whose Golden rule is “Serve others as you would like to be served.”

But yet, the incumbent president deprived him of his support.
To clear your curiosity, Mr. Atiku was one of the most corrupt former public office holders that invaded government arrest because of immunity and money influence. For instance, the US Case Study Report on Atiku reads thus:

"Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, a U.S. citizen is the fourth wife of Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria and a former candidate for the Presidency of Nigeria. This case history examines how, from 2000 to 2008, Ms. Douglas helped her husband bring over $40 million in suspect funds into the United States, including at least $1.7 million in bribe payments from Siemens AG, a German corporation, and over $38 million from little known offshore corporations, primarily LetsGo Ltd. Inc., Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., and Sima Holdings Ltd …. Over half of the suspect funds, nearly $25 million were wire transferred by the offshore corporations into U.S. bank accounts with opened by Ms. Douglas …. Bank records indicate that Ms. Douglas used most of the funds placed into her accounts to support a lavish lifestyle in the United States, paying credit card bills and household expenses in the range of $10,000 to $90,000 per month …. Over the years, questions have been raised about the source of Mr. Abubakar's wealth. He spent twenty years in the Nigerian Customs Service, and then worked in the private sector for ten years, before serving as Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. While Vice President, Mr. Abubakar was the subject of corruption allegations relating to the Nigerian Petroleum Technology Development Fund.

In December 2008, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in a formal complaint against Siemens AG, a German company, that among other actions, in 2001 and 2002, Siemens wire transferred $2.8 million in bribe payments to a U.S. bank account belonging to Ms. Douglas as part of a scheme to bribe Nigerian officials." _ (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, December2008)

Atiku is said to worth over $2 billion with most of the money hidden away in the Cayman Island, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates where Jennifer-Jemila is now located after it became difficult to open new bank accounts following her designation as Politically Exposed Person (PEP).

Atiku himself was also placed by the United States government on the list of Specially Designated Nationals (The OFAC SDN), a list made up of corrupt politicians, terrorist financiers, mafia lords and similar miscreants around the world.

Similarly, Over a period of eight years Jennifer-Jemila Atiku-Abubakar opened various accounts at different banks in Maryland for the purpose of receiving and helping to launder funds. The accounts opened included several personal accounts at Citibank, Chevy Chase Bank, Wachovia Bank, Eagle Bank, and Suntrust Bank, credit card accounts, brokerage accounts (with Citibanks's Smith Barney affiliate), home equity account, Gede Foundation accounts, AUN (ABTI American University in Nigeria) account, and safe deposit boxes. She was obsessed with opening bank accounts and loved the benefits that accrue to her. The three (3) Siemens wire transfers were paid into Jennifer E. Douglas' account #52096374 on 4/12/2001 ($450,703.79), 10/01/2001 ($461,440.92) and on 1/28/2002 ($860,500), for a total of $1,772,644.71. Additional $2 million kickback payments were also confirmed to have been made to Atiku Abubakar through his wife over a three year period from 2000 to 2003. She received these additional funds through J.E. Douglas Steradian Co. UK L, J.E. Douglas and Peniel Inc. UK Ltd. Wire transfers to Douglas's account #52096374 at Citibank from LetsGo accounts at Wegelin & Co and Banca Del Gottardo between 2003 and 2006 came to a total of $7,424,620. From Guernsey Trust Company account at Wegelin & Co was a total of $3,049,940 between 2006 and 2007. Additional wire transfers from LetsGo Ltd to another Douglas account #1209739556 between 2005 and 2007 came to $5,550,000. The wire transfers were endless and kept flowing for years while Atiku Abubakar was Vice President of Nigeria.

The receiver meanwhile remained jobless and a student! She was the receiver of treasures and stolen funds, but the banks caught up with her and Atiku one by one, and one by one the banks closed the accounts. She was the robust pipe and willing tool, a messenger sent to the United States of America primarily to open accounts, receive funds, reroute funds, transfer funds and recycle funds for various personal and family needs of her husband. She was and is still well taken of; her home a $2 million house in the choice area of Potomac, Washington, D.C., It was clear the main purpose of the over thirty (30) accounts the Atiku-Abubakar opened was to receive fraudulent payments and to launder suspect funds.

Answer to the reason President Obasanjo refused to supports Atiku’s presidential ambition could directly be found in previous sections.
However, Mr. Atiku was seen talking about the youth; this is a very cheap political statement that lacks credibility. For instance, how can a man that was vice-president and number 2 citizen of the federation for 8years, who could not fixed the problem of unemployment when Nigeria was only some 120million people, able to do it now when Nigeria is some 170million people?

According to Mr Atiku, “Our youth are represented here. (Please join me in giving three gbozaas for our youth: Gbozaa! Gbozaa! Gbozaa!). You, the youth – endowed with fresh ideas, bubbling energy and a passionate desire for change - you are the hope of this nation. Without you, we really can’t talk of a future with hope and confidence”

Why is Mr Atiku suddenly remembering the youth existence? Where his mind was when he was setting up a University for the extremely rich, where average tuition fee is between 1.3million naira to 6million naira? If truly they (Youths) mean anything to him, then, his tuition fee should be the cheapest or at least at a subsidised rate since he is truly in for service and not for looting. It is my advice, first to the APC and Nigerians that a candidature in Atiku Abubakar remains questionable, fraudulent, parsimonious and misplacement of priority.

To think of Atiku as the next successor to Goodluck Jonathan is to say good bye to the enduring but lasting democracy that Abe Lincoln (16th President of the United States) begged Christ to help preserve, protect and sustained.

God bless Nigeria!

Ok