"I am not a fan of Atiku (Abubakar) but cancelling his contract now that he indicates interest to contest election against you is in bad faith. If he did not indicate interest, the contract will still be running. Not good for “our change ideology”– Monday Ubani, 2nd Vice- President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Following the bombshell by Hajia Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs that she will not support President Buhari in 2019 if her godfather, Atiku decides to run and the statement by the former Vice- President that he will fight corruption better than it is currently being fought if elected as president, many political observers have predicted that it is just matter of time before the government takes actions that will clip the wings of the man popularly referred to as the Turakin Adamawa by his political associates.

Few weeks after Alhassan’s outbursts, many Nigerians were however taken aback when the federal government, through the office of the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the agency has with Intels Nigeria Limited, a company co-owned by Atiku.

Intels, which is Nigeria’s leading logistic firm for the oil and gas industry was co-founded by Atiku and an Italian businessman, Gabriel Volpi, in the 1980s. In a recent interview, Atiku, a chieftain of the ruling APC described Intels as his most successful business.

Why We Terminated Contract – NPA

Giving reasons why the contract was terminated, NPA’s Chief Executive, Hadiza Usman, said the contract with Intels was canceled on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami.

According to her, the legal advice was contained in an AGF’s letter dated Sept. 27, 2017, which was a response to NPA’s May 31, 2017 letter in which it sought clarity on the matter.

Usman said that she had raised letters and held several meetings with INTELS management to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account since she assumed office 15 months ago.

“They maintained their stand not to make payment to NPA. They want to deduct 28 percent commission and other costs. NPA says a TSA account has been opened and that at the end of the month, there will be reconciliation of accounts but INTELS refused. Will I spend 15 months talking to a company to comply with the constitution of the country?” she asked.

Usman explained that all further attempts by the NPA to get the company obey the payment directive were met with various excuses. Sealing the fate of Intels, she concluded by saying that the NPA management would proceed on a transitional arrangement to engage another firm.

However, Intels on its part said the NPA ended the contract on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, without inviting it as the other party to the agreement for negotiation or due recourse to the terms of the agreement that specify conditions precedent before a party can exit the contract.

Nigerians React

Like the above quote from Ubani, the NBA chief, many Nigerians who spoke on the developments described the move against Intels as a political witchhunt aimed at crippling Atiku politically ahead of the 2019 elections.

Many of Atiku’s supporters who took to social media platforms to express their displeasure over the development said it is a plot to truncate Atiku’s political ambition in 2019 by making him financially feeble. They also alleged those behind the move are afraid Atiku may realise his presidential ambition if not urgently checkmated.

Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, also berated the federal government over the termination of the contract describing it as cowardly and petty.
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In a tweet posted on his Twitter handle @realFFK, Fani-Kayode said “You cancel @atiku’s contract with NPA simply because he wants to run against you in 2019. This tells me that you are wicked, cowardly and petty.”

In his reaction, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governorship aspirant in Delta state said the motive behind the cancellation is to weaken Atiku politically ahead of the 2019 election.

“ There are no two ways about it. The motive behind the move is to restrict Atiku financially or discourage him from proceeding with his presidential ambition. If not that, why coming after Atiku’s company now? There are so many questions to be asked but I believe that this is politically motivated” he said.

In a similar vein, a group known as Democracy Coalition also codenmed the cancelation of the agreement saying it is aimed at witch-hunting Atiku over his presidential ambition.
http://independent.ng/2019-who-is-afraid-of-atiku/

Simple things show the true character of men. Pre 2015, Atiku, Tinubu and the like in opposition then never had their source of income tampered with by the government they derided daily.
Presently the very government they helped install is showing them pepper.
No government has been as vindictive and petty as this one. And that's why they have no record of achievements even in the so called "anti-corruption" war

Brb