Posted by By ERIC OSAGIE, Abuja on
In what could be regarded as a prelude to his formal declaration, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, upped the political ante Friday when he disclosed that he will be in the 2007 presidential race.
In what could be regarded as a prelude to his formal declaration, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, upped the political ante Friday when he disclosed that he will be in the 2007 presidential race.
He also hit hard at his estranged boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he accused of running a one-man show and pursuing reforms without human face, promising to reform some of the reform programmes.
Atiku, who spoke through his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, also pledged to run an inclusive government of technocrats, reduce poverty in the country from the present 70% to 15%, and create 4 to 10 million jobs in four years.
'I have made up my mind in 2007 for the presidency. I believe I am the most experienced of all those who have indicated interest in the top job," Shehu quotes Atiku as saying, adding that 'the VP will need technocrats to run his administration from both within and outside Nigeria, but generally he does not intend to run Nigeria like a CEO. Because he does not believe that good leadership is about a single individual, but the ability of a leader to assemble some of the best hands to help him realise his objectives."
On the on-ongoing reform process of the Obasanjo administration, the Vice-President said many of the programmes will be refocused so it could have a human face. According to Shehu: 'Vice-President Atiku believes in the on-going reforms, but will modify many of them after consulting widely with stakeholders, so that they can be better implemented in the interest of the country and its people."
The Vice- President also spoke on the alarming poverty rate in the country, admitting that over 70% Nigerians are living below poverty line, which he said could be reduced to 15% if he becomes president in 2007.
'He will create 4 to 10 million jobs in fours years," said Shehu.
On the intractable schism in the Niger-Delta region, Atiku promised a new deal for the people of the region. 'Something needs to be done and very quickly too, and he[Atiku] believes he can make a difference."
The Vice- President also pledged to intensify the war against corruption but the war, he noted, should not be fought only in Abuja. 'It should go beyond FCT to cover states and LGs."
With Atiku's latest statement, the political terrain promises more excitement in the week's ahead. About a fortnight ago, former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida threw his hat in the ring when he expressed interest in the 2007 presidency. Govs. Orji Uzor Kalu and Sani Ahmed of Abia and Zamfara states, respectively, have also declared their intention to have a shot at the topmost job.
However, the contenders to the throne have to contend with the alleged third term agenda of the incumbent president.
And in what could be regarded as one of the biggest coalitions against the third term project, leading opposition politicians, including Vice President Atiku, met early Thursday morning at the Niger State Governor's Lodge in Abuja. At the heated gathering, they vowed to retire President Obasanjo from politics and send him back to his Ota Farms in 2007.