Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has
explained that by the letters of the Nigerian Constitution, a Vice President is
limited in his official powers to execute projects of his own initiative and
that limited his capacity to deliver even on some lofty projects designed for
his own state in Adamawa while he served with President Obasanjo.
Atiku Abubakar made this statement on Tuesday while
speaking to journalists on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport
in continuation of his consultations to Bayelsa and Rivers States for his 2019
presidential bid.
He reminded that as Vice President he did not have the
powers to initiate and execute projects of his own choice, but to engage the
process. He stated further that it is on record that he creditably discharged
tasks assigned to him as Vice President.
He regretted that apart from constitutional
constraints, which limited the powers of the Vice President, the politics and
political intrigues of that era also harmed the larger interest of the people
of Adamawa, as some of its share of federal infrastructure including roads were
deliberately discontinued on account of some political differences among
several key players.
The PDP presidential hopeful said that the
administration he served in as Vice President awarded contracts for the Mayo
Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Tongo and Yola-Mubi-Maiduguri roads in Adamawa State in its
first term. According to him, there was supposed to be a spur of the road
linking Mambilla in Taraba State and thereby making it the shortest cut to
Mambilla but execution of these were delayed and later truncated on the altar
of politics.
Atiku said allegations that funds meant for road
projects in the state were diverted to build the American University of Nigeria
in Yola was being unfair to him, and that "it shows lack of understanding
of how government runs on the part of the people making such allegations.
Government does not run on such pedestrian level, it is a process."
He maintained that all the money used for setting up
the first development university in Africa came from private sources.
"To set the records straight, no public funds
were involved in all my investments in several sectors that have continued to
provide jobs and enhance educational and socio-economic well being of Nigerians.
I have always been contented with what God has given to me in all its
ramifications and I thank Him for using me to better the lot of the
people".
"Without being immodest, I was a successful
businessman before going into politics and subsequently becoming the Vice
President by Allah's Grace. I was not desperate to be in government in order to
make money but to serve the people in my own little way and contribute my quota
to its overall development".
Atiku Abubakar asserted that he was the most
investigated Vice President in Nigeria, and challenged "anybody with
evidence linking public funds to the AUN or any of his private investment to
come forward to prove that".
Atiku lamented that some people do not appreciate
individuals who create wealth by their personal initiative and resourcefulness
but rather hold contrary views with the stigma of such possessing ill gotten
wealth.
He said that it was wrong to assume that one can't
succeed without stealing public funds, noting that it is well documented that
he (Atiku) had made a success of his businesses before he was tapped as Vice
President.
"If money was my motivation for seeking elective
office, I would not have joined the presidential race at any point in time in
my political career. My ability to make money through my businesses was
established long before I was chosen as Vice President," he said.
He stressed that passion for service, and the desire
to bring efficiency in the management of government affairs are the main
reasons he wants to run for President.
He however affirmed that better days are ahead not
only for Adamawa State but indeed for all of Nigeria when he gets the mandate
of Nigerians to serve as President in 2019.
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