Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas is the National Chairman of Atiku Care Foundation (ACF), one of the movements mobilising Nigerians to support the presidential ambition of the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. He speaks with Northern Bureau Chief, MUHAMMAD SABIU, on the recent declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term; the ambition of the former vice-president and the support Atiku is giving to the youth to assume political power, among others. Excerpts:
WHAT is Atiku Care Foundation all about?
The Atiku Care Foundation is a solid political organisation that extends Atiku’s philanthropy to the underprivileged, internally displaced persons, orphanages and so on. We work to ensure that poor and vulnerable people are well Informed, educated, and empowered to contribute directly to sustainable development under the rule of law.
President Muhammadu Buhari has just declared his intention to seek a second term in 2019. How did you see his declaration?
The declaration of Buhari is an expression of interest to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is also in conformity with APC’s party guidelines to all aspirants.
Do you see his declaration as a threat to the ambition of the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar?
There is nothing threatening about President Buhari’s declaration. Firstly, this is not the first time both of them will be running at the same time in the presidential elections. Recall that as vice-president, Atiku Abubakar ran against Buhari in 2003 and repeated the same feat as a presidential candidate in 2007. The two of them also had run on the same party platform in the presidential primary election in 2015. In all of these occasions, one of them had either emerged winner over the other and in one case the both lost out to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory. To us, President Buhari is a familiar political opponent that does not call for apprehension.
Do you also share the belief that the current government led by Buhari has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy in the past three years?
President Buhari has not only failed to deliver the dividends of democracy, but has also succeeded in taking away the dividends of democracy the PDP government provided for Nigerians. I will explain. What was the price of fuel before President Buhari came to power and what is the price of fuel today? What was the price of a US dollar to our naira before Buhari came to power and what is the price of a dollar to naira today?
The summation of the three budgets prepared by PMB stands at over 26 trillion naira, yet there is no single capital project that has been initiated, completed and commissioned in the three years of President Buhari in power.
These are facts that are verifiable. Have it in mind that the minimum wage approved by the PDP government is what is still enforced. Please, note that it is on the strength of the three issues I earlier mentioned that the economy thrives. Where is the wisdom in the sharp rising national debt profile amid growing foreign reserves? The ruling APC government has effectively returned Nigeria to the Paris Club debt situation with just nothing to show for the huge amount borrowed. This is not only wicked, but unpardonable.
Are you also in support of young people taking over from the older generation?
All over the world it has become a non-negotiable fact that political leadership is being passed to the younger generation but not without proper grooming and mentorship. The ideal practice is to open up the space for the young ones to hold leadership positions to enable them to gain experience and grow within the ranks. That is what His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is out to do and will do dispassionately. Follow his history of appointments and recent pronouncements, you will have no doubt, but agree with me that he is one Nigerian politician that has the capacity to alter the status quo in favour of the youth. Since our party democracy does not provide that easy access to the young ones, he is expected to go ahead to effect it.
Looking at Nigeria, which kind of leader do you think Nigerians will be pleased to have in 2019?
Nigeria needs a unifier; a detribalised nationalist; a thinker; a proven job creator; an acceptable father figure and a Nigerian who understands the thinking of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Which area or areas do you think the next president of Nigeria should concentrate on in view of the multiple problems confronting the nation?
The next president should focus on healing and reconciliation: The country has never been this divided along ethnic and religious lines, the non-abating killings, the 97 per cent versus five per cent pronouncement by President Buhari, etc. The next president should encourage a sustainable production economy. We need to encourage private entrepreneurs to establish enterprises that will ginger the economy. Agriculture, for instance, should receive a boost. We cannot afford to do away with our agricultural potentialities. Also, the next president should handle and stabilise the foreign exchange. This situation, as it is, is not healthy. Our currency is weak and it has led to serious inflation. There is also the need to introduce concrete social interventions, as we all know that not everyone will be gainfully employed or has the resources to set up a medium or small enterprise. This one that the present government is giving N5 to the most vulnerable Nigerians is too meagre to change their lives.
The provision of adequate security is very important and which the next president should take seriously. The serious security challenges in the land need to be tackled once and for all. For instance, the continuation of insurgency in the North-East must come to an end. The herdsmen/farmers crisis in the middle belt must be addressed, so also the cattle rustling and banditry in the North-West . All these wanton killings must stop. There is also the need for the next president to stabilise the power sector. If the power sector is revived, many jobs will be created.
Do you think your principal, Atiku Abubakar, can govern the country effectively if given the chance?
A careful study of his economic blueprint will convince you beyond reasonable doubt. He has done it while in government and has tremendously replicated it in his private businesses. The records are there for Nigerians to judge. Without sentiment, I strongly appeal to Nigerians to believe in the Atiku agenda.
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