Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has attributed his low performance during the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo to some provisions of the nation’s Constitution.
Atiku, who made the revelation on Wednesday at the Port Harcourt International Airport while on tour of Bayelsa and Rivers States for his 2019 presidential bid also called on anyone with evidence that he stole or built his investment on public funds to make it public.
He noted that the Nigerian constitution did not give him the powers to execute projects, adding that he lacked the powers to execute official projects of his own initiative while in office.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful pointed out 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.
He said that there was supposed to be a road linking Mambilla in Taraba State and thereby making it the shortest cut to Mambilla but execution of these projects were delayed and later sacrificed on the altar of politics.
Atiku said the allegations that funds meant for road projects in Adamawa State were diverted to build the American University of Nigeria in Yola, the state capital were being unfair to him as they showed lack of understanding of how government runs on the part of the people making such allegations.
“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 their overall development,” Atiku said.
While stressing that he was the most investigated Vice President in Nigeria’s history, Atiku lamented that some people do not appreciate individuals who create wealth by their personal initiative and resourcefulness but rather label them corrupt.
He maintained that it was wrong to assume or insinuate that one could not succeed without stealing public funds, noting that it was well documented that he had made a success of his businesses before he was elected as Vice President.
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