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Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a specialist in the importation of looted funds and foreign currencies.
The former Vice President recalled the legendary smuggling of 53 suitcases into the country in 1984 when Buhari as military head of state insisted that all bags and luggage must be searched diligently to prevent importation of illicit funds, saying that the President used the opportunity to protect his personal interest.
President Buhari had in a statement accused Atiku of planning to smuggle in looted funds into the country just before the February 2019 elections.
Going down memory lane, Atiku added: “For the avoidance of doubt, history shows that rather than smuggle in looted cash, Waziri Atiku Abubakar has a record of preventing looted funds from being smuggled into Nigeria.
“In 1984, it was Atiku Abubakar, as head of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department, that stopped the ADC of the then Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money into the country.
Young Nigerians and millennials who may not be aware of this incident, will do well to Google it. Only the guilty are afraid. It is President Muhammadu Buhari who has a history of smuggling in looted funds and not Waziri Atiku Abubakar.”
The former Vice President recalled how Nasir El-Rufai, a favourite of the President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, stated on October 4, 2010 as follows: “In 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new.”
The statement noted that Atiku Abubakar’s plane was searched, his accounts perused and his businesses thoroughly investigated with a fine tooth and nothing remotely corrupt or illegal has been found.
“In desperation, the Buhari administration released this statement to cover their shame on a day that the US-based International Strategic Studies Association reported that it is the unprecedented corruption around President Buhari that has led to the recent setbacks in the war on terrorism in the Northeast and the heavy loss of lives amongst the military rank and file. May God save Nigeria from a government that values money over lives,” it added.
While reminding Nigerians to note that it is Muhammadu Buhari who has a history and a record of smuggling in looted funds and Waziri Atiku Abubakar who has a history of preventing such from happening, the statement said: “We urge them to tell Nigerians those behind Etisalat and Keystone Bank and how they suddenly possessed such wealth overnight.
“Finally, Nigerians should note that the Buhari administration cannot defend their record on jobs and poverty – the things of most concern to voters – thus, their only resort is slander.”
