You’re The Problem, Not The System: Atiku Tackles Buhari Again

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate,
Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday took a swipe at President Muhammadu
Buhari telling him not to blame Nigeria’s system for his failure
but to own up to his responsibilities.

Atiku said this on Wednesday in response to President Muhammadu
Buhari’s statement on his fight against corruption when he reacted
to critics referring to him as ‘Baba Go Slow’ where he said he is
not slow but rather; it is Nigeria’s system that is slow.

He said further that Buhari’s admitting that his administration
is slow shows failure of his administration in tackling
corruption.

“My attention has been drawn to a statement by President
Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of a Christmas homage paid on him
by members of the Federal Capital Territory Community in which he
blamed his inability to fight corruption on the Nigerian
system.

“According to the President, his administration is slow in
fighting corruption because the system is slow.

“My immediate response to this is to commend President Buhari
for admitting that he has failed in fighting corruption. The
President has just corroborated Transparency International, whose
latest Corruption Perception Index shows that Nigeria is more
corrupt today than it was under the previous administration, having
moved 12 places backwards in the CPI, from 136 in 2014 to 148 this
year.

“But my point of departure from the President is in blaming his
failure on the system. I disagree. The system has challenges, yes,
but where there is political will, the system can make progress,”
he said.

The former Vice-President explained further that during his
administration, corruption was speedily handled and convictions
were made.

“I was Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and we used
that same system to speedily convict no less a personality than an
Inspector General of Police, and several others including cabinet
ministers and other high officials.

“Mr. President, the problem with your anti-corruption war is not
the system. You are the problem!”

“The system allows you to arrest, try and convict your former
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was fingered in
a major corruption case, but you chose to let him go Scot free and
you demonstrated your tolerance for his corruption by giving him a
prominent role in your re-election campaign and recently welcoming
him to the Presidential Villa with open arms.

“The system allowed you to arrest, try and convict Abdulrasheed
Maina, the biggest ever alleged thief in our civil service history,
who is suspected of looting the pensions of millions of aged
Nigerians. Yet you chose not to go that route, preferring instead
to recall him, reinstate and double promote him while giving him
armed guards to move about.

“The system allows you to probe the $25 billion NNPC contracts
awarded without due process, but you chose to bury the matter under
the carpet, hoping the Nigerian people will forget about that grand
scale alleged looting exposed by a leaked memo from a member of
your cabinet.

“Finally, nothing in the system stops you from telling Nigerians
who owns the billions found in an Ikoyi apartment.

“Based on the above statement of facts, I will not allow you to
to make Nigeria the scapegoat for your failure. Your failure is
personal, and not national.”

Related

Air Chief Celebrates Chrismas with Troops in
North-East
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has
charged Nigerian Air Force (NAF) frontline troops to remain focused
while maintaining the highest level of vigilance and combat
readiness to guarantee the security of Nigeria and Nigerians. The
CAS gave the charge today, 25 December 2018, while hosting troops
of the Air Task Force (ATF) Operation Lafiya Dole to a Christmas
Day Luncheon in Maiduguri. The Luncheon, which has become a
tradition in the NAF, is held during major festivities to
appreciate the troops and alleviate the pains of their inability to
celebrate with their families. According to the CAS, such
get-togethers also help to foster comradeship while providing an
avenue to commend the efforts of all those involved in the fight
against insurgency.

Speaking further, the CAS, who was represented by the Chief of
Policy and Plans (COPP) NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal (AVM)
Muhammodu Mohammad, expressed delight to be in Maiduguri to
celebrate with the troops. He reminded them of the need to sustain
their efforts in order to ensure lasting peace and stability in the
Northeast and other parts of Nigeria. According to him, “we all are
aware that so much is at stake for us in this war against
insurgency. As such, we cannot allow ourselves to be taken
unawares. While thanking God for his mercies and keeping us alive
to see this celebration, I appreciate all your efforts and that of
our families for their unending support”, he added. The CAS also
seized the opportunity to thank the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for providing the
resources that enabled the NAF to effectively perform its
constitutional roles. He pledged the determination of the troops to
reciprocate by remaining disciplined and exhibiting the highest
level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Earlier in his welcome address, the ATF Commander, AVM James
Gwani, expressed the gratitude of officers and men of the ATF to
the CAS for his commitment to the morale and welfare of the
personnel as well as for providing the necessary facilities and
enabling environment that ensured effective and efficient mission
accomplishment all through the year. Appart from the officers and
airmen/airwomen and civilian staff of the ATF, the Bulama and some
other members of the host community of Gomari were also present at
the Luncheon. A similar event is scheduled to hold in Yola on
Boxing Day.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force