2023: I’ll Name, Shame, Prosecute Oil Thieves, Says Atiku
- Atiku has promised that there will no longer be a hiding place for oil thieves and their accomplices in Nigeria
- The PDP presidential candidate said no no matter how highly placed such people are, they will be prosecuted if he emerges president
- The former vice president made the pledge while speaking to business leaders in the commercial city of Lagos
Lagos - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has said there will no longer be a hiding place for oil thieves and their accomplices, no matter how highly placed in the country if he is elected as the next president of Nigeria.
Atiku made the pledge in Lagos on Saturday, November 26 in Lagos when he interacted with a broad spectrum of corporate Nigeria under the aegis of Business Dialogue Stakeholders Forum.
Source: Twitter
Doyens of industry at the session include: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe and Muhammad Hayatudeen among others.
Atiku also said he would, in the interest of national development, confiscate all oil bloc allocated to some Nigerians who have failed to make them operational.
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The former vice president, who promised to sustain frequent interactive sessions between government and the country’s’ business class when voted to power, equally outlined the ways he would tackle what he described as an ailing economy.
His words:
“If you are not going to develop oil blocs given to you, we will take it away and give it to those who will develop it. We will also assemble the names of those involved in oil theft, publish same and prosecute them.”
On his plans to boost the oil and gas sector, Atiku recalled that under the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo the quota of oil production was earmarked for increase to four million barrels per day.
That plan, he explained, would be resuscitated and sustained beyond the projected figure, when he is voted into office next year, pointing out that in order to do this successfully, the Petroleum Industry Act and any other enabling law would be invoked.
He added that the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, atarted under the Obasanjo administration will be given more attention under him.
He added:
“We will continue if we have the opportunity. As you know, joint ventures are good because they are investor-driven.”
He reiterated his commitment to privatizing the refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri.
Turning to fiscal challenges of FOREX, monetary policy and the N20 trillion way and means balance facing the country, Atiku said:
“I believe that we should have a FOREX policy that allows a convergence. I don’t believe in a multiple FOREX policy that currently applies.”
He said in order to stabilize the FOREX regime loopholes in oil production would be blocked, emphasizing that he would encourage local production and not control of public expenditure.
In his remarks, the PDP vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the Atiku administration would embark on technology-driven surveillance and other solutions to tackle the problems of community agitations in the Niger Delta and breaching of oil pipelines by vandal.
The national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, expressed appreciation to corporate Nigeria for gracing the occasion, assuring them that they are engaging with the right party.
Both Governors Udom Emmanuel and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Akwa Ibom and Sokoto states; who are the chairman and Director General of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign team, urged the stakeholders to support Atiku for a better Nigeria.
I’ll set aside $10billion for employment of youths, women in Nigeria if elected - Atiku
In a related development, Atiku has vowed that if elected, his administration will set aside $10billion to create employment and boost small and medium scale enterprises to help employment drive for youths and women in the country.
The former vice president made the comment while addressing PDP supporters in Illorin, the Kwara state capital on Thursday, November 24.
Massive crowd thronged the Metropolitan Square, Illorin to catch a glimpse of Atiku and his entourage as they campaigned in the north-central state.
2023: Researcher says PDP manifesto is the most detailed ahead of polls
Meanwhile, researcher and journalist, Nichola Ibekwe has revealed that the PDP has the most detailed manifesto ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Ibekwe, a 2016 World Press Fellow, made the assertion in a Twitter thread on Friday, November 25.
The renowned journalist also lambasted Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi for not releasing a manifesto to the public few weeks to the election.
Source: Legit.ng
