You are the problem, not the Nigerian system - Atiku to President Buhari

- Atiku Abubakar accused President Buhari of not fighting corruption as he claimed

- The PDP presidential candidate accused the president of shielding corrupt people around him

- The former vice president said he has what it takes to combat corruption

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that the system is slow which has made the fight against corruption difficult.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the former vice president in an statement he signed said President Buhari does not have the will to fight corruption which corroborates Transparency International\s new Corruption Perception Index which shows that Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the previous administration.

READ ALSO: Buhari will hand over to Atiku come May 29 - Buba Galadima

Atiku said:: “But my point of departure from the President is in blaming his failure on the system. I disagree. The system has challenges, yes, but where there is political will, the system can make progress.

“I was Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and we used that same system to speedily convict no less a personality than an Inspector General of Police, and several others including cabinet ministers and other high officials.

“Mr President, the problem with your anti-corruption war is not the system. You are the problem! “The system allows you to arrest, try and convict your former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was fingered in a major corruption case, but you chose to let him go Scot free and you demonstrated your tolerance for his corruption by giving him a prominent role in your re-election campaign and recently welcoming him to the Presidential Villa with open arms.

“The system allowed you to arrest, try and convict Abdulrasheed Maina, the biggest ever alleged thief in our civil service history, who is suspected of looting the pensions of millions of aged Nigerians. Yet you chose not to go that route, preferring instead to recall him, reinstate and double promote him while giving him armed guards to move about.

“The system allows you to probe the $25 billion NNPC contracts awarded without due process, but you chose to bury the matter under the carpet, hoping the Nigerian people will forget about that grand scale alleged looting exposed by a leaked memo from a member of your cabinet.

Atiku cited the Ikoyi fund saying the president has yet to reveal owners of the fund.

“Based on the above statement of facts, I will not allow you to make Nigeria the scapegoat for your failure. Your failure is personal, and not national.

“If you could go abroad to insult Nigerian youths as lazy, why did you go to Paris to praise a governor who was caught red-handed receiving bribes on camera?

“The system did not stop the EFCC from charging the opposition Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Mr Udom Emmanuel, as a co-accused in the case involving the NBA Chairman, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN). Contrast this with the treatment meted out to Governor Umar Ganduje of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

“Besides, your excuse is deceptive, because you have staunchly resisted restructuring. If you really believed that the system is the problem, you would have embraced restructuring.

“Unfortunate as your admitted failure in the war on corruption is, it is your economic policy that is the greater failure. Your lack of ideas and your politicisation of the corruption war has made your administration fight legitimate businesses and the opposition.

“I might add that it is actions such as this that have led to an unprecedented capital flight which has caused joblessness and made Nigeria the world headquarters for extreme poverty under your watch.”

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Army on Tuesday, December 25, said its troops had repelled attack coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents at a military formation in Kukareta, Damaturu local government area of Yobe state.

In a statement, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said the insurgents had on Monday, December 24, at about 6: 30 pm, attacked a Military Forward Operational Base, in Kukareta community of Yobe.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng