•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),Atiku Abubakar has insisted that selling some government assets to the private sector is the best for the country’s economy.
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007,
said this while featuring on Channels TV in a Town Hall Meeting tagged “People’s Town Hall”
Atiku was replying to a question on why he is fixated on selling public assets which other leaders built with taxpayers’ money.
The PDP flag bearer argued that selling off the four refineries that are not functioning while the government keeps budgeting for them yearly, will afford him the money to fund other pressing projects.
He claimed that he could make N10 billion from selling the refineries, saying the money will fund the small businesses which will, in turn, create employment and prosperity.
“I am not fixated but I think that is best for the country. I mean, let’s be honest with ourselves, we have four refineries and they have seized functioning; I don’t know for how many years now and every year we budget money for overhauling the refineries that don’t work; please let’s give it to the private sector,” he said.
“In every great nation in this world, you find out that it is the private sector that is driving the economy, they provide the jobs, they provide the prosperity, and they do everything, why should we be different? So, I am not fixated.
“If you feel that is the best for you go and elect somebody who can come and leave them moribund, they are not working and you are spending money on them, tell me how they benefit the community or the society.”
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Atiku also said that he and his running mate may not have answers to all the questions at the moment but if given the mandate to rule the country,they will act and listen to yearnings of Nigerians.
He added that his credentials as a public servant, businessman, part of the political class who fought the military to return democracy as well as former Vice President puts him ahead of other contenders in the 2023 presidential contest.
He said, “Nigeria has never gone through what it is going through at the moment. I was among those who fought the military , I went on exile.
“We (with running mate) may not have all the answers but we will do by listening to Nigerians, it is not that we have not been listening but we are here to listen more,” he said