Nigerians have come for presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for saying he would enrich his friends rather than his family members if elected.
Atiku stated this on Wednesday while addressing the business community in Lagos at an event themed “Getting Nigeria’s Economy Working : A Pragmatic Approach.”
He said, “I am not going to enrich members of my family but my friends.
“Are my friends not entitled to be enriched? As long as there is no element of corruption there.”
He also vowed to reduce the size of the Federal Government and privatise national assets such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to comments monitored by The Herald on social media, commentators are accusing the former vice president of attempting to elevate cronyism to the level of state policy for vowing to enrich his friends.
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They said that, instead of enriching his friends, Atiku should work to ensure that opportunities are open to all during his government.
Watch video:
Atiku just confirmed what we have always known about him.
“I will sell NNPC….. I will sell to my friends…. Are my friends not entitled to be enriched?”
Take a listen pic.twitter.com/Cf749W3zit
— Abubakar Sidiq Usman (@MrAbuSidiq) January 16, 2019
Dear @atiku using entrusted position to enrich one's friends is cronyism, which is the byproduct of formal corruption. @anticorruption calls it "form of corrupt behaviour" Cronyism is always evidence of ethical failure.
Nigerians would like you to confirm or deny this statement. https://t.co/EE7qVDWcIz
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) January 16, 2019
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
Nigerian vote wisely.. His not yet the president. His talking personal.. His friends. My friends.. The people is far from his lips.. How can he think of the people.. A party that love to development poverty.. God save us from another set of ambitious leader.. https://t.co/gV7kMWbOvz
— Aziboledia (@Aziboledia1) January 17, 2019
Sell, sack, privatize seem to be the center of all Atiku's campaign. I'm not sure this man wants to win elections.😏
— JAG45 (@adegbade1) January 17, 2019
"I am going to enrich my friends" @atiku
Candidate for the position of @NGRPresident sums up the REAL AGENDA of @OfficialPDPNig pic.twitter.com/T24nTZE731
— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí (@ogundamisi) January 16, 2019
Lol… confirm or deny what he said in public and on record?? Are you kidding me??
— King Arthur of Camelot (@KingArthur9ja) January 17, 2019
NITEL , PHCN , NPA , AIRWAYS, NICON , ETC…
ATIKU AND HIS FRIENDS.
— Ehindero Ayo Michael (@enuetioju) January 16, 2019
@atiku @OfficialPDPNig is going to ENRICH his FRIENDS,not the ORDINARY NIGERIAN.
You only chop when you are @atiku @OfficialPDPNig FRIEND.
They are coming to wipe our MONEY again.@atiku GOVT is an administration for his FRIENDS. pic.twitter.com/s3yiaJHz5P
— YEKINI NABENA (@ynabena) January 16, 2019
NNPC already belongs to Nigeria, why sell it to Nigerians again in order to enrich them?
Are you sure you know what friends means?
— Ayodeji Gasby🐼 (@Gasbytweet) January 16, 2019
I want to be among your friends, sir @atiku 🙏 pic.twitter.com/EDq6SEdqlS
— Engr. Adamu Hayatu™ (@AHayatu) January 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/Mr_JAGs/status/1085659959952457729