Peoples Democratic Party PDP Presidential Aspirant and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has attributed his previous failed  attempts to clinch the nation’s number one job to what he called ‘conspiracy theory of the political elite’.

Atiku, who is seeking to become the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said his refusal to be used by the elite to satisfy their personal aspirations as well as their belief that he is too independent and principled are part of the reasons they don’t support him.

Speaking at the PDP presidential nomination media chat in Abuja, Atiku said, “If you are not going to be used, if you are not going to satisfy their personal aspiration.

Part of the problem they (elite) have with me, is that they say I am independent, principled and so on.
Unfortunately the Nigeria public is not politically sophisticated to override the conspiracy of these political elite. They rely on the political elite to direct them”.

Atiku, who has defected to several political parties, has been contesting to become president since 2007 when he left office as vice president. He however promised to initiate economic reforms that would open up the country to foreign investors if elected as president in the February 16, 2019 general elections.

He lamented that most of the gains recorded by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration under which he served as vice president and head of the economic team, have been eroded by successive administrations. The presidential aspirant, who blamed policy somersault for the economic woes in the country, said he would use his experience in the private sector to restore the country to growth path if given the chance to govern.

According to him, the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari has failed to deliver its three cardinal campaign promises of fighting corruption, security and fixing the economy.

“When we came in in 1999 a barrel of crude oil was less than 10 dollars in the market, we met less than $5billion in our foreign reserve. With all that, we were still able to manage the economy of the country to the extent that we paid all our foreign debt and became debt free, reform policies. We were able to turn around the economy then, so I don’t think is an impossible task to do now. If we given the opportunity, I believe it is doable. “I believe I have the experience and the capacity to deal with these issues more than any one of them, because I have dealt with them before.

I assembled the best economic team with that we went well and everybody attested to what we have done in those eight years.

We liberalised the economy, we expanded the private sector’s participation and try to limit government to the necessary issues. If these policies we started were continued, today we will have been in a better country. “So I believe we need somebody who can come and continue with these policies so that we can bring back our prosperity, create more jobs for our unemployed youths.

The most important thing is who can put this country back on the path of growth, I believe and I am so sure that am that person,” he said.

Shelumiel:
A man who milked Nigeria dry wants to become president? Never !

royalamour:


Where's your proof?

positivelord:
All I know is that Atiku is far better than Herdsman we have now...

Shelumiel:
Ask Obasanjo and the The USA. They will tell you better

Shelumiel:
A man who milked Nigeria dry wants to become president? Never !

tuniski:

Stop this baseless accusation.

yarimo:
shaataap