I WILL FIGHT CORRUPTION BETTER THAN BUHARI - ATIKU

Former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to fight corruption like never before if given the chance to preside over Nigeria’ s affairs.

Atiku also challenged those he described as his self - righteous political enemies to either prove his alleged corrupt activities or keep quiet .

The APC chieftain said this during a facility tour of the new ultra- modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja on Monday .

This was contained in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja .

Atiku was quoted as saying, “ he would fight corruption like never before if he is given the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the country. ”

The former Vice - President said , “ It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office . ”

He noted that people who lacked initiative , personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation , “ always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing . ”

“ People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them, ” he added .

Atiku said it was morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion .

The Waziri Adamawa explained that though he had not been convicted of corruption by any court in the land or elsewhere , his political enemies had been parading a fake morality to fool gullible Nigerians .

He was equally quoted as saying, “ Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities. ”

Atiku recalled that he had pasted a reminder on his bed side during his training as a Customs officer that he would retire from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40 .

He said that he was only able to attain the position of a deputy director before his exit in 1989 to chart a career in business .

Atiku told the management and members of staff of Yaliam Press that he retired from the Nigeria Customs Service with unblemished records .

He challenged anybody who had evidence that he stole a kobo at the Customs or during his tenure as vice-president to confront him with evidence or file a petition against him .

Atiku said he did not become a Vice -President in 1999 as a pauper because he had been a successful investor throughout his retirement life.

He said , “ If Atiku is a thief merely because of his resourcefulness and successful investments , my political enemies should tell Nigerians the sources of their own stupendous wealth . ”

Atiku charged the management and members of staff of the company to manifest the values of honesty, hard work and diligence. These attributes , he said , stood him in good stead during his years as a public servant and an entrepreneur .

The former Vice- President said he was well equipped to fight corruption because of his vast experiences both in the public and private sectors and his ability to build a team capable of accomplishing the task .

“ I will shock everyone because I believe that I will fight corruption like never before . ”