The former Vice President of Nigeria and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has restated his commitment to restructure Nigeria through constitutional amendments that will transfer of more powers and resources to other tiers of government if elected president in next year’s election.
Atiku told members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos on Wednesday during an interactive session that it was unfortunate that a section of the media chose to misinterpret his comments at a session with the Lagos Business School Alumni Association on Tuesday.
“It is rather unfortunate that a section of the media reported my remarks at an event yesterday in a way that casts doubts on my readiness to implement my restructuring agenda.
“Let me, therefore, use the opportunity of this gathering today with the gatekeepers of the Nigerian media to say that my restructuring agenda is intact and it will be implemented from my first day in office.
“Already, I have received a report from a team of constitutional law experts which I assembled to look into our constitution and highlight areas where there are items that can be moved to the concurrent and residual lists of the constitution.
“Let me tell you that I will start work on the implementation of that report from my very first day in office if I am elected president next year,” Atiku said.
Responding to questions from the editors, the former vice president said that his administration would work closely with the private sector towards ensuring that the gaps in infrastructure deficits were closed.
“The private sector is pivotal to my agenda to rejuvenate the economy and close our infrastructure deficit gaps. If I am elected president, I will work closely with the private sector by giving them incentives to create more jobs and also grant them tax holidays in order for them to intervene in our infrastructure development.
“It is obvious to all that the government doesn’t have all the money and the debt burden has continued to weigh us down. Therefore, the government has to be creative and engaging the private sector is one way of solving our infrastructure problems in a sustainable way,” Atiku said.
The PDP presidential candidate also promised to secure Nigerians. To him, the country can only develop when there is security.
He also vowed to uphold press freedom if he wins the presidential election.
Giving accolades to the Nigerian media, the former Vice President said: “I want to pay tribute to the press for their role in the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. Many of you have sacrificed your lives and career.”
He also used the opportunity of the interactive session to reel out his plans for Nigerians as contained in his manifesto titled “My Covenant with Nigerians” and the Recover Agenda of the PDP.
Atiku kicked off his speech by informing the editors that he sees himself as a true Nigerian in every sense mainly because he has spent the greater part of his career in the South and as such, he knows the south as much as he knows the north.
When asked about his economic blueprint for Nigeria, Atiku says he intends to continue with the economic policy of the PDP government in 1999-2007 which includes liberalizing the economy, empowering the private sector and continuing with the privatization agenda of the Obasanjo-led administration.
“If you look at the thriving economy in the world, they allow the private sector to run the economy. If you see the amount of work the government has to do in terms of constructing and decongesting our ports, railway, and you have to borrow, I will rather concession most of these projects to the private sector and give them tax incentives. This will bring progress, prosperity and peace”.
Speaking on the unity of the country, the ex-VP said: “In 1999, we had two presidential candidates from the South and the PDP won resoundingly well but we had a government of national unity.
“We had APP, AD ministers and the country became one and this provided the peace and stability that we wanted. This is what I intend to do. PDP will set up a Government of National Unity. It is one of the ways to unite this country. Every section or geo-political zone will be carried along in appointments in every sector.”
GIK/APA