Mrs Titi Abubakar, the wife of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has revealed how her husband was victimised for insisting on examining the 53 suitcases imported into the country by a top northern traditional ruler during the military regime of Muhammadu Buhari.
She made this known on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Asokoro, Abuja residence of prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and leaders of Afenifere, Niger Delta, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Middle Belt forums.
Atiku was the Customs Officer in Charge of Murtala Muhammed Airport when the suitcases were imported into Nigeria in 1984.
Mrs Abubakar said that her husband’s insistence on doing the right thing earned him the wrath of the government.
She debunked claims that Atiku was corrupt, noting that as his wife of more than 40 years, she was in the best position to judge his character.
She said, “When Atiku was in Customs, there was one incident that happened in the 80’s when 53 suitcases were brought in by a traditional ruler during the administration of the present president and he (Atiku) insisted that those suitcases must be opened.
“But they were very angry with him and they called the then Minister of Finance, Onaolapo Soleye, and they said they should throw him out of the job.
“But the minister said to them, this is one of the finest officers he had, that he would never throw Atiku out. That was what the man did. They said, ‘it’s ok, if you don’t want to throw the man out, transfer him immediately. Atiku was that day transferred to Kano.”
Further attesting to her husband’s anti-corruption credentials, Mrs Abubakar narrated how she met him when he was the customs commandant at Idi-Iroko border in Ogun State.
She said, “I had just finished my secondary school and traveled to Benin Republic to visit my aunt living there. While returning, they gave me some piece of clothes, and at the Idi-Iroko custom check point they said I should pay duty for clothes.
“I told them that I am a student and don’t have money to pay the said duty. Atiku was watching the argument from his office. He ended up paying the two pounds sterling from his pocket instead of directing his boys to let me go without paying the duty.
Read Also: Osinbajo And Fake News Are Co-Joined Twins – By Reno Omokri
‘’However, from my information details in my passport, Atiku later traced me to my house and the rest is history. But the point is that if he’s corrupt, he would have made me to evade payment of the duty and still have his way thereafter.”
Responding, Clark said Atiku was eminently qualified for the presidency due to his avowed commitment to restructuring of the country.
The elder statesman lamented that Nigeria had never been more divided, insecure and impoverished.
Clark said, “We interviewed 16 presidential aspirants under the PDP, starting with Atiku followed by Saraki. We spent two hours with each aspirants. Afenifere from south west, Ohaneze from south east, middle belt and south south representatives were all around for the interview.
“We are, however, looking for the person who will keep it together, who will restructure the country, who is most competent. Today 75% of Nigerians want restructuring Atiku started advocating for since 1994.”
Leave a Reply