I will consider attending
National dialogue if invited –
Atiku on october 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm
in news Abuja – Former Vice-President
Atiku Abubakar says he has no
objection to the proposed
National dialogue and will
“consider’’ attending if invited. Abubakar disclosed this on
Thursday in Abuja on the
sidelines of a reception
organised by the Spanish
Embassy in Nigeria to mark the
country’s national day. Atiku: Jonathan invited him for
talks The former vice-president, who
was among the dignitaries that
attended the event held at the
residence of Mr Alvaro Aguilar,
the Spanish ambassador,
however, expressed concern at the timing of the conference. “My worry is about the timing
of the national dialogue, it’s
too close to electioneering and
I’m wondering whether we
have the capacity to manage
very sensitive issues. “Electioneering in Nigeria can
be a very sensitive and
controversial issue and in
addition to that you now have
a national dialogue, otherwise
I do not have any serious objection to it,’’ he said. Abubakar suggested that the
dialogue should consider the
restructuring of the country,
devolution of powers and
increase revenue allocation to
the state and local governments. “I will like to see more powers
to the components of the
country. “I will like to see the power at
the centre considerably
reduced as well as the
responsibility and money
allocated to the centre,’’ he
said. On the issue of the tenure for
the president and governors,
the former vice-president
argued that the current two-
term, provided for in the
constitution, be maintained. He congratulated the
government and people of
Spain on the occasion of their
National day. “I look forward to a more
strengthened relationship
between Spain and Nigeria and
I believe that our relationship
has been very good. “I will like to see more Spanish
investment even though the
country is going through very
difficult economic times, we
hope for more increased
investment’’. Earlier, Aguilar described
Nigeria as a “strategic partner
with Spain.” He recalled that, “in 2012, 16
per cent of the gas and 14 per
cent of petroleum consumed in
Spain came from Nigeria
adding that the financial
exchange between the two countries rose to more than
seven billion euros. He also described the interest
of Spanish business community
into Nigeria as “growing’’ and
noted that the volume of
investments and exports from
Spain recorded an impressive increase of 25 per cent in 2012. The ambassador reiterated
Spain’s support and solidarity
to Nigeria in the fight against
terrorism. According to him, the Spanish
government has issued six
official statements this year to
condemn different terrorist
attacks by insurgents in
Nigeria. Aguilar pledged that Spain
would continue to promote
peace, regional integration and
stability in West Africa. “Since 2006, Spain had made
donations of more than 900
million euro to West Africa and
our commitment is reflected in
the areas of food security, rural
development, migration, infrastructure, renewable
energy and gender,’’ he said. A major highlight of the
celebrations was a traditional
display of Spanish tap dance by
a duo. (NAN)
www.vanguardngr.com

Oga Atiku, the confab you and Obj organised was in 2006 while the following year 2007 was the election year. We really need to talk as a country and I think Nigeria has capacity to handle both the confab and elections together in the months ahead.

Goddex: Oga Atiku, the confab you and Obj organised was in 2006 while the following year 2007 was the election year. We really need to talk as a country and I think Nigeria has capacity to handle both the confab and elections together in the months ahead.

He has forgotten so soon,