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Obasanjo's eight-year administration, ‘epitome of failure'

Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday launched a blistering attack on President Olusegun Obasanjo's eight-year administration, describing it as an epitome of failure.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday launched a blistering attack on President Olusegun Obasanjo's eight-year administration, describing it as an epitome of failure.

He also lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its chieftains, who he labelled "corruption personified."

Atiku, who spoke in Yola at an Action Congress (AC) campaign rally, insisted that he remained his party's presidential standard-bearer and expressed optimism that he would be sworn in as president on May 29.

Addressing a teeming crowd of supporters at the Mahmud Ribadu Square, Yola, the vice president, lambasted President Olusegun Obasanjo as having failed in power generation, agriculture and infrastructure. He regretted that despite the fact that the Federal Government expended $500 billion on power generation, Obasanjo's government could not reposition the sector.

"When we came on board in 1999, the output of electricity generation was 3, 500 megawatts, but now we are generating less than 1, 000 megawatts after we have invested over $500 billion dollars," he said.
He warned Nigerians against voting for the PDP to avoid a continuation of perpetration of corruption, disregard for the rule of law, dictatorship and a one party state, which would not be healthy for democracy.

Abubakar, who said he had been destined by God to rule Nigeria, doubted the possibility of the PDP controlled government conducting credible elections, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security outfits had been at the beck and call of the Federal Government.
While maintaining that INEC had failed to conduct proper revalidation of voters' registration, the commission, he alleged, was as well not ready to conduct free and fair general election as the whole exercise was being stage-managed by the federal might.

Abubakar also decried lack of infrastructure in most states of the federation, attributing the phenomenon to bad leadership. He promised Nigerians good governance under Action Congress controlled government from May 29, 2007.
The vice president, who spoke extempore in Hausa and English languages, said the teeming support AC has received was a signal that power had already eluded PDP at the centre.

Abubakar, flanked by AC chieftains, including Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State, urged Nigerians to jealously protect their votes in the forthcoming general elections, adding that he had uncovered a plot by the Federal Government to use security operatives and government apparatus to PDP advantage.

Also addressing the crowd, Governor Boni Haruna, who described himself as a new convert from PDP to AC, urged Nigerians to continue to support the ideals that AC and Abubakar stood for.
He also announced PDP's obituary in Adamawa State, saying the self-acclaimed political gladiators of the party would permanently be retired from active politics with the anticipated PDP poor showing in the elections.

According to him, the AC had taken the day in all states of the country. He described Atiku as an icon of democracy as he defeated all efforts made by PDP to thwart his presidential ambition using government apparatus. He, however, praised the judiciary for living above board.

Haruna, who vowed that the PDP would never form the government in Adamawa State, said Adamawa people had jettisoned the party "because it is a party full of deceit and dishonesty and composed of individuals who lack wisdom to make a turn around."