Buhari Abandoned Me After Using My Money, Influence For 2015 Election – Atiku

Almost three years after President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed the president dumped him after using his resources to attain victory.

Atiku alleged that the All Progressives Congress-led administration sidelined him after using his “money and influence” in ousting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government from power in 2015.

The former Vice President, who on Wednesday bore his mind in an interview with Daily Trust, expressed disappointment that the Buhari-led government was yet to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists.

“Honestly speaking, I’m still a member of the APC; I was part of all the processes, including campaigns until success was achieved.

“But sadly, soon after the formation of government; I was side-lined, I have no any relationship with the government, I’ve not been contacted even once to comment on anything and in turn, I maintained my distance.

“They used our money and influence to get to where they’re but three years down the lane, this is where we are,” Atiku said.

On the fight against Boko Haram, Atiku said, “Yes, there were successes but not comprehensive success because the Boko Haram miscreants are still very active, killing our people and many local government councils in Borno and Yobe are under their firm grip. People cannot dare go back to their dwellings.

“This thing baffles me; I never imagined that Nigeria will fight a protracted battle with Boko Haram for five years. At a time, we fought the Biafra war, which was more complicated because of the terrain in the South but the Biafran soldiers were roundly subdued in 30 months. But here we’re, fighting an endless battle with the Boko Haram and there’s no end in sight,” he said.

On Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, Atiku said, “How many people were arrested, prosecuted and jailed? How much was recovered from the looters?

“When we came on board in 1999, I remember we recovered between $4.5 and $4.7 billion from those that looted under (Late Sani) Abacha,”‎ he said.

Meanwhile the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, on Wednesday, told Reuters that she would resign if President Buhari attempts to seek re-election into office in 2019.

Alhassan said she would tender her resignation “because my political father (Atiku) may be running” for presidency in the next general elections.