Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged his “self-righteous political enemies to prove his alleged corrupt activities”.
Alternatively, he advised those making such allegations against him “to mind the skeletons in their own closets and keep quiet”.
He said he would fight corruption like never before if he is given the opportunity to preside over the country’s affairs.
Atiku spoke when he toured the facility of a new ultra-modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja yesterday.
A statement by his media office in Abuja quoted the former vice president as saying: “It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.”
He added that people, who have no initiative, personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation, always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing.
According to him, “People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them.”
He added that it was morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion.
The Waziri Adamawa explained that though he has not been convicted of corruption by any court in the land or elsewhere, his political enemies have been parading a fake morality to fool gullible Nigerians.
“Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities,” he said.
Atiku, who was responding to the address by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Yaliam Press Limited, Yahaya Ali Amfani, recalled that he had pasted a reminder at his bed rest during his training as a custom officer that he (Atiku) would retire from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40.
Atiku said he was only able to attain the position of Deputy Director before his exit in 1989 to chart a career in business.
The former vice president told the management and workers of Yaliam Press that he retired from the Customs with untainted record, adding that if anybody has evidence that he stole during his service year in Customs or during his tenure as vice president, such accusers should come forward or file a petition against him.
Atiku said he didn’t become a vice president in 1999 as a pauper because he has been a successful investor throughout his retirement life.
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