Atiku Abubakar has dismissed criticisms that he’s desperate to become president of the country as he braces up for the 2019 presidential election.
He pointed to his decision to step down for MKO Abiola during the race for the 1993 presidential election whose result was eventually annulled by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida.
He said, “If I am desperate, I wouldn’t have stepped down for M.K.O Abiola in 1993 presidential race. In 1993, I contested with M.K.O Abiola. I later withdrew from the race.
“In 1999, I was elected a governor of Adamawa state, then invited to be Nigeria’s vice president, under Olusegun Obasanjo.”
Atiku, who was vice president under former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, between 1999 and 2007, said he hasn’t had proper opportunities to contest as a presidential candidate.
He said, “All the times I have been contesting for the presidency, I have been opportune only once to be presented to Nigerians as a candidate.
“I could have become Nigeria’s president in 2003 when virtually, all the state governors then, rallied support for me to contest which I declined. I am not desperate to be president as some Nigerians view it.”
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