Icheoku says when evidence is so glaring, the accused can but throw things at the wall hoping something sticks. Instead of taking up Baba Iyabo's challenge that he visits America to prove his innocence, Abubakar Atiku went to town with his resume of being a deep pocket ever before his vice presidency. Further he bragged about establishing industries and companies but without telling Icheoku and millions of other curious Nigerians who are working in these industries or where those industries are located or what they are manufacturing or producing. Anyway be the judge as below here is Mallam Atiku's denial to Baba Iyabo's accusation that he is eminently a very CORRUPT person, reproduced:-
"Following the corruption charges made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in an EFCC magazine ‘Zero Tolerance’ that former vice-president risked jail if he traveled to the United States, the former president is wrong. It is widely known that Atiku did not enter government broke. He declared his assets at the commencement of his vice-presidency and did so at the end of his term as required by the constitution, which is a sacred document to Atiku. Atiku, who is currently returning from China after leading a private economic trade mission at the invitation of the Chinese government, travels often and has a well-documented record of building industries and putting thousands of Nigerians to work. And this record, quite frankly, has been thoroughly investigated. Mr. Abubakar has no case to answer from the American Government as he spent three months in the country before the late Nigerian President Yar'Adua was inaugurated without being arrested."
In answer to Atiku's claim of a three months sojourn in the United States before Yar'Adua was inaugurated, Icheoku says by then he probably was still covered by diplomatic immunity as a sitting vice president of a friendly country. Moreso, it was likely that investigation into his alleged corruption was still ongoing and this period was also before his USA accomplice Congressman Williams Jefferson was convicted for stashing $90,000.00 cold cash, part of Atiku's bribe money, inside his freezer. So to lay this matter to rest, Atiku should board the next Delta or United or even Arik airlines flight to JFK and prove that a clear conscience fears no accusation and that he has nothing to fear by avoiding United States of America. This is a challenge that Obasanjo has thrown for Atiku and only Atiku can disprove this through a proactive visit to Uncle Sam's and God's own country. Until then, Icheoku views Atiku suspiciously as an itching finger inside Nigeria's pot of gold and should never be allowed near the presidency, not in his life, NEVER AGAIN!
No comments:
Post a Comment