I Will Restructure Nigeria Within 6 Months If Elected - Atiku Abubakar

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said he would restructure Nigeria in six months if elected president in the 2019 elections.

Mr Abubakar stated this Wednesday during a question and answer session at the Chatham House in UK after delivering a lecture titled: “The Importance of Strengthening State Economic Management Systems”.

He also said he would offer a matching grant of $250 million each to the 36 states of the federation to challenge them to enhance their Internally Generated Revenue.

He said he was not surprised by President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that Nigerian youth were lazy because he (Buhari) had never managed a business.

“It is doable. In fact, what I’ve told many Nigerians at home is that if you give me six months, I know I will be able to achieve a fast level of restructuring, otherwise the concurrent list issue.

“It’s very easy to deal with it because there is no state that you will call and say ‘I want to give you this responsibility together with the resources’, and will say ‘no’.”

He said he wants people of every state to be able to hold their leaders accountable because of how the federal Government “is being accused of everything, even when it’s not in its area of responsibility.”

“I want to be able to resolve that so that citizens can hold their local leaders responsible for lapses and maladministration.”

Asked if he would consider running as an independent candidate should he fail to secure the ticket of Peoples Democratic Party, which he recently defected back to, he said, “We’ll wait until that time”.

He added that he would make Nigeria attractive for those living in diaspora to return.

On President Muhammadu Buhari’s description of some Nigerian youth as lazy bunch, Mr Abubakar said the president would not describe Nigerian youth as lazy if he (Buhari) was an employer of labour.

“On the issue of youth, I am an employer of labour and most of that labour is youth-dominated and I make a lot of profits from my businesses.

“I don’t agree with the assumption that the youths are lazy or they are indolent. Certainly, I don’t. But I’m not surprised with the fellow (Buhari) who made that remark because he’s not an employer of labour, he has no business, he has no educational institution so he doesn’t relate with youth in schools so I don’t blame him.”

He criticised the multiple exchange rate in the country, saying it does not encourage foreign investors to put their money in Nigeria.

He said “his federal government” will continue to offer support, despite the $250 million grant for states that rank below the average development index, until such a time as they are able to become self-sufficient and sustaining.

“Beyond institutional and administrative reforms to improve operational efficiency of the revenue agencies, the federating units will be challenged to double their efforts in rebuilding the fiscal-social contract, by enhancing service delivery in key areas such as health, education, water supply and infrastructural development.

“Only this would change the predominant perception that government revenues are diverted to the private bank accounts of politicians and their cronies.”

Mr Abubakar who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition PDP, on whose platform he served as vice president, is seeking the party’s nomination to serve as its presidential flag bearer in upcoming 2019 presidential election.

He criticised senators of his former party, APC, of betrayal following the “shocking and saddening” decision of the Senate not to grant devolution of power to the states during the constitutional amendment last year.

He said the decision by the APC-controlled Senate was “a lost opportunity to honour one of the party’s election promises to bring about change by shifting power closer to the people in the remotest regions of our country”.

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Posted: at 26-04-2018 08:21 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero

na so them they promise heaven...useless man...how will you restructure Nigeria in 6months....? lay out your plans and stop telling us gibberish...lets determine if you know what you are saying

Posted: at 26-04-2018 08:31 AM (5 years ago) | Hero

NIGERIA NEED NEW FACE IN OUR POLITICS.
ALL THIS OLD MEN HAS NOTHING TO OFFER.

Posted: at 26-04-2018 08:47 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

LIAR.SAME PEOPLE.SAME STORY

Posted: at 26-04-2018 09:06 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

next candidate.

Posted: at 26-04-2018 09:50 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

candidates, candidates, which one is the best Choice, how about this ones

1) Nwankwo Kanu:  
A big heart, from his handwork, has formed charities , can Nigeria rise from its sickness just like this man, who was ill, but beyond the odds survived and gave back to people.

2) Yemi Osinbajo:
He displayed loyalty, son to  Buhari, He seems like a stable human being, while he managed the country, things were getting, lets say better.

3)Omoyele Sowore:  – 47 years old

There are other candidates that seem more qualified, Nigerians should wake up, and decide now, investigate for their selves the best candidate.
other candidates are:
A) Kingsley Moghalu – 55 years old
B) Fela Durotoye – 46 years old
C)Donald Duke – -56 years old
D) Thomas-Wilson Ikubese – 47 years old
E)  Mathias Tsado – 41 years old
F) Tope Fasua – 47 years old

These candidates have some good history, imagine be ruled by a computer scientist or been ruled by donald duke, or been ruled by someone who is a project manager, someone who has done handwork and knows the importance of creating Jobs, empowering people, caring for the peoples welfare, improving education, providing opportunities for people.

Posted: at 26-04-2018 10:26 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

or you knew how i ruled cross river.

Posted: at 26-04-2018 10:32 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Restructure your own life first bastard

Posted: at 26-04-2018 10:33 AM (5 years ago) | Grande Master

Fast, dont give the chance to greedy, fat stomach, ritualistic, mad, dramatic, and spoil-t children politicians, you can research on your own, talk about their achievements, become fully aware now, don;t give chance to kidnappers, oppressors and cultist. Share you thoughts, advertise the best, and even vote here for the best.

Posted: at 26-04-2018 10:36 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Hmmm.mm criminals

Posted: at 26-04-2018 01:43 PM (5 years ago) | Hero