Former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku has said that he will not advise the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government in public, Punch reports.
Atiku said his resolve not to advise the government in public was because he did not want his counsel to be in the public domain or on the pages of the newspapers.
He said this on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting that lasted for two hours with a former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, in his Minna residence.
Asked what advice he had for Buhari on the challenges facing the nation, Atiku said he would only advise the government in camera.
Atiku said, “Well, if I am to advise the government, I will advise it in confidence because I was in government before. I will only advise the government in private so that it won’t be on the pages of newspapers.”
Responding to questions on the restructuring of the country, he said, “It is left for Nigerians to decide.”
Atiku had expressed the belief that restructuring was the key to solving most of Nigeria’s problems.
Atiku, who arrived the Minna International Airport in an aircraft number T7AAA at exactly 12.40pm on Tuesday, was received by the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, who accompanied him to IBB’s House.
Asked why he was in Minna, Atiku said, “I came to visit the former President and also to wish him well since he returned from his medical trip abroad. That is the reason why I am here.”
They started the meeting at 1.15pm but they stopped briefly at 2.15pm to observe prayers.
It ended at 3.16pm and the former Vice-President left straight for the airport with his entourage.
Those who accompanied Atiku to Minna included Capt. Yahaya Gombe, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, Alhaji Kwaironga Jada, Senator Mohammed Mangoro and Alhaji Jamilu Jibrin.
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2015 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given towww.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
