A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, says the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar does not own Mikano generators as regularly insinuated on social media.
Omokri, a supporter of the PDP candidate, stated this in a post praising Atiku’s business acumen.
He said that Atiku owns a string of successful businesses that collectively employ more than 10,000 people but not Mikano.
“Atiku’s largest investments are Intels, which employs 5000 Nigerians, and the American University of Nigeria, Yola which employs 2400. He also invested in Rico Gardo, an animal feeds company that employs 1800 Nigerians, along with Adama Beverages, producers of Faro Water and Yoghurt, which employs 1000 Nigerians.
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“Whether Intels, or AUN, or Rico Gardo, or Adama Beverages, you will notice that everything Atiku is invested in is grown, manufactured, or provides services in Nigeria. He does not import to trade in Nigeria. He is not the owner of Mikano Generators as Obidients falsely allege,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US-based Omokri made a case for diaspora voting.
He said that since Nigerians living abroad remit $22 billion back home annually, they should be able to vote in elections back home and financially support any candidate of their choice.
Omokri was weighing in on the controversy surrounding the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s alleged solicitation of campaign funds from Nigerians in diaspora.
The Electoral Act 2022 prohibits political parties and their candidates from receiving funds from Nigerians in the diaspora for their campaign activities.
Omokri said, “To be honest, I see nothing wrong with using diaspora funds to run a Presidential candidate’s campaign.
“They are Nigerian citizens after all. This is not about Peter Obi. It is wrong to prevent diaspora Nigerians from funding a campaign. In fact, they should even be allowed to vote!
“It is nonsensical that in the year 2022, we do not allow our diaspora to vote.
“Niger Republic allowed Nigeriens living in Nigeria to vote at their embassy. Please research it. If Niger can allow it, then why does Nigeria disenfranchise our diaspora who remit $22 billion back home annually?