Why I’m most qualified to be president ― Atiku

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said that he is most qualified candidate among all the contenders for the position.

The former Vice President, who spoke on a live television programme, ‘The Candidates’, adduced among others his vast experience acquired over the years in government and his depth in the private sector.

His words: “Why me, because I am bringing a lot on the table. I will like to claim that as far as experience is concerned, I am the most qualified. Secondly, I’m also bringing my business experience which I acquired over a long period almost two decades after leaving public office.

Atiku, who was at the programme with his vice presidential candidate Peter Obi, said the present APC federal administration has performed poorly and therefore does not serve reelection.

“In the last four years, we have witnessed the performance of this administration. I believe Nigerians should be able to compare the records of achievements of the previous PDP administration and the current APC administration

“In summary, the APC administration came to address three serious issues, one of which is to improve the economy, to fight corruption and to curtail the Boko Haram in the northeast.

“At the time they came in, Nigeria’s economic performance was much better. Our GDP growth was about 6 per cent. Immediately they came in, they took us into reception and we are still getting out of recession, our GDP growth is now about 2 per cent. I don’t think that’s a good performance.

“Secondly, when you go in the fight against corruption either today or yesterday, the latest Transparency International report said we have not fared better than when the APC administration came in.

“When we come to the issue of security, at the time they came in, the security challenge was restricted to the northeast. Today, it has spread to two other northern zones – north-west and north central. I don’t think that’s a good performance.

“So, on the basis of that, I think Nigerians need to know that the current administration has really not performed to their expectations.

“Thirdly, I believe I am a candidate for the future because I tried to bridge the current generation with the future generation”, he said adding that the last three and half years of the present administration has been a failure because rather than deliver on their promises, they have left things worse than they met them.

 In the same, former Anambra state governor and Atiku’s running mate Obi said the economy has degenerated under the APC a development he said has resulted to high rate of unemployment.

“Today, we have record insecurity that this country has not witnessed, we have record unemployment. We have 21 million youths unemployed in their productive age.

“Today, we have a record out of school children, 13.5 million. If you look at all indices of development, it’s gotten worse. Insecurity, we are now number three after Afghanistan and Somalia. We are so divided today.

“If you look at the cumulative expectation of Alhaji Atiku, you know why at this time we need somebody of his experience, a unifier that can bring Nigeria together and I will be there to support him considering the age difference.”

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