The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians not to entrust the country’s treasury to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Felix Morka, national
publicity secretary of the APC, cited a number of cases allegedly involving the
former vice-president as reasons Nigerians should not entrust him with the
nation’s treasury.
Morka’s statement is titled ” 2027: WHY NIGERIANS MUST KEEP
ATIKU AWAY FROM THE NATIONAL TREASURY”.
“Ghosts of his sordid past continue, restlessly, to haunt
and warn that Atiku must never again be allowed anywhere close to such a
commanding position of trust and responsibility as the presidency,” the
statement reads.
“As a former public official, Atiku’s record is an executive
summary of some of Nigeria’s vilest episodes of corruption and cronyism that
pulverised our economy and decimated public trust.
“From the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the
Siemens bribery scandal to the William Jefferson case, the PTDF funds
controversy, and the US Senate investigation into suspicious financial
transactions, Atiku’s name is engraved ingloriously on files and dossiers of
onshore and offshore financial scandals and atrocities.”
The APC spokesperson said the allegations had been
documented in official records, court and tribunal proceedings, government
investigations and foreign legislative reports.
He said the recent controversy surrounding the Mambilla
project was particularly concerning, alleging that a $500,000 payment made by
Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former
wife, in January 2003 had raised questions because it occurred around the
period the contract was awarded.
Morka said the transaction was among the issues examined in
proceedings before an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in
Paris, France.
He also cited the Siemens bribery controversy, alleging that
about $2.8 million in suspected bribe payments passed through a bank account
linked to Atiku’s ex-wife.
The APC spokesperson referenced the William Jefferson case,
in which he said the former US congressman was convicted after investigators
examined allegations involving proposed business interests in Nigeria and
Atiku.
He also referred to a 2010 report by the US senate permanent
subcommittee on investigations which examined financial transactions involving
Atiku and Douglas.
According to Morka, the various controversies raised
questions about whether Atiku should be entrusted with the presidency.
APC ATTACKS ATIKU’S SUBSIDY PROPOSAL
Morka also criticised Atiku’s position on petrol subsidy,
describing his proposal to introduce support for locally refined petroleum
products as a plan that could undermine the gains of the current
administration.
Atiku has said he would introduce a targeted production
subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria if elected, rather than
restore the previous open-ended subsidy regime on imported petrol.
However, Morka said the proposal is part of Atiku’s attempt
to gain access to Nigeria’s finances.
He alleged that the proposal would threaten the country’s
foreign reserves and other gains recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s
administration.
The APC national publicity secretary also accused the ADC
presidential candidate of seeking to reverse the economic reforms introduced by
Tinubu’s administration.
Morka urged Nigerians to reject what he described as Atiku’s
“desperate quest for presidential power” in the 2027 election.
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