Atiku rallies support for good governance, anti-corruption campaign

Former vice president and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated the need for the mass media to be in the vanguard of  promotion of good governance and anti-corruption campaign.

The Turakin Adamawa made the charge while receiving the management staff of the Atiku Media Office (AMO) at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, on Monday, November 7, 2016 for the twin purpose of felicitating with him ahead of his 70th birthday and the 10 years of the establishment of the Atiku Media Office.

The former vice president recalled the role of the media in partnering with progressive-minded politicians to end military rule and dictatorship in the country.

He said the fourth estate of the realm has a more entrenched role to play to ensure that democratic tenets remain intact and are not assailed by anti-democratic forces.

While acknowledging the pioneering role the Atiku Media Office played in the past 10 years and continues to play in the promotion and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, the former vice president, however, observed that the media office was a creation of necessity to challenge executive recklessness of that era.

“When I created the Atiku Media Office in 2006, many people thought I was crazy. But I knew that I needed an institution to respond to the lies that were peddled about me by the same government that I served as the number two person.”

Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, had paid tribute to Atiku for his uncommon zeal in the promotion and sustenance of democracy and good governance in the country.

“But your mandate has also evolved beyond the promotion of Atiku Abubakar. I will urge you to continue to be a promoter and enabler of democracy, good governance and support anti-corruption initiatives, especially as being championed by the current administration.

“Many people don’t know how damaging bad governance and corruption can adversely affect the fortunes of a society, and at the Atiku Media Office it is your responsibility to work in concert with others to educate the people and defend these ideals at all times.”

Ibe reminded Nigerians that the travails of Atiku Abubakar arose from his opposition to the ill advised Third Term agenda.