Atiku ‘will never be a threat’ to Buhari’s re-election

Daniel Onjeh, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue South senatorial candidate, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is not a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari’s chances of re-election in 2019.

Onjeh, who is the board chairman, Project Development Institute (PRODA), said this on Friday in Abuja.

He said President Buhari is an epitome of integrity, transparency, and accountability, but the same cannot be said for Atiku.

“Atiku is a man whose source of wealth is a mystery hidden in a pandora’s box of riddles,” Onjeh said.

“Atiku oversaw Obasanjo’s administration’s opaque privatisation process and has allegations of several misdemeanours hanging over his head.

“The name Atiku also featured prominently in the criminal investigation of an African-American congressman who was later sentenced to jail.”

This, he added, was the reason the US embassy in Nigeria refused to grant him a visa.

Onjeh said since coming to public life, Buhari has been above board, adding that his determined and focused fight against corruption had elicited a sustained, vigorous, and well-funded campaign of calumny against his person and office.

He urged Nigerians to avoid sentiments and to disregard propaganda by those desperate to return to power by all means.

“To their eternal shame, their assets would be confiscated and shared out to the poor. This realisation has driven them to a state of extreme desperation; they will do anything to fight back,” he said.

“Nigerians should not be deceived. They are ganging up against President Buhari because they will all be made to account for their ill-gotten wealth if he is re-elected.”

Onjeh said Buhari’s re-election will result in significant gains in the war against corruption, provision of world class infrastructure, and improvement of security.

“Above all, it will pave the way for the youth to vie for the highest offices in the land in 2023. Atiku has never been and will never be a threat to Buhari in 2019,” Onjeh said.