#NGTheCandidates: I’ll grant amnesty to looters – Atiku
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Olayinka Ajayi
Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his
running mate, Mr. Peter Obi Wednesday frontally fought off allegations
of corruption bringing to light the candidate’s personal role in the
establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.Atiku
and Obi taking their slot in the live television session series, Meet
the candidates, hosted by ace broadcaster, Kadera Ahmed in a robust
exchange gave further insights into their programmes for the country
giving lucid examples from their personal experiences in government and
private life.The session which was severally spiced with hot
exchange between the moderator and the two candidates saw Atiku and Obi
repeatedly enunciating how they would make Nigeria work again.Atiku
The moderator, Ahmed who came in feisty challenged Atiku on his
perception on corruption asking him whether his setting up of a company
while still in service was not an act of corruption.Atiku
strongly rebuffed the claim saying that it was an investment that was
akin to share purchase flowing from the Indgenisation Decree promulgated
by the OlusegunObasanjo administration.Ahmed also challenged Obi saying that he invested Anambra State government money in a brewery he had interest in.
To the contrary, Obi said that he invited the foreign investors into
the country and was offered 15% equity but rejected it but the
investment is now worth $100 million.Giving his role in spearheading the fight against corruption, he said:
“I
in particular brought the concept of the EFCC from Brazil. I borrowed
them N300 million from the privatization proceeds which they repaid when
the budget appropriation was made.” While noting that he was
willing to consider amnesty for looters, he said that President Obasanjo
set up a panel with him as chairman with the Attorney General of the
Federation and the National Security Adviser as members which was able
to recover $4 billion.Ms Ahmed who challenged Atiku on the United States report which she said named his wife asked him to speak on it.
Atiku
replied that there was nothing to it as his wife was neither indicted
or charged on the issue saying that if there was anything against her
that she would have been charged.“My wife was not indicted, was
not charged, so I have no view about it. The company was fined for a
number of offences committed, not necessarily for anything to do with my
wife.My wife is an American citizen so there is no way that
she would not have been charged.” Asked if his wife has been travelling
to America since then, Atiku responded to the positive saying “Yes, she
has been traveling repeatedly then.” When she allowed
questions, a member of the audience quoted Dr. Obasanjo’s past
description of Atiku as unfit for public office and asked Atiku what he
would do if someone with such a referral came to him whether he would
employ the person.Replying, Atiku said:
“If the man has
changed his mind and said that I recommend him as the best, then I have
nothing to say.” As Ms Ahmed pressed him to elaborate, Atiku said he
was about the most investigated person during the Obasanjo
administration and that nothing criminal was found against him.On
his desire for the presidency, he said: “In the last four years we have
witnessed the performance of the present administration and I believe
that Nigerians should compare with the record of the previous PDP
administration.
Source:- Vanguardngr
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