Presidency fires back at Atiku, explains when Buhari can be ‘uncompromising’

The Presidency on Wednesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari was truly uncompromising only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians, and squandering their riches.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said this while reacting to a remark by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that the President was uncompromising and power drunk, who will not be ready to leave power without a fight.

However, Adesina, in a statement said, “Rather than use the name of President Buhari to buoy his bid to get the presidential ticket of a party, whose flag has been flying at half-mast since it got roundly trounced at the polls in 2015, the former Vice President needs be told that the President is truly uncompromising, but only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians, and squandering their riches.

“President Buhari is uncompromising in the quest to restore probity and accountability to public office.

“He is uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre-2015, thus the war against corruption is being fought without fear or favour.

“The President is equally resolute in the determination to ensure that Nigeria is no longer a mono-economy, depending only on oil.

“Yes, President Buhari is single-minded in effecting change in every area of Nigerian life. So, Alhaji Abubakar is right, if that was what he meant by the President being “uncompromising.’’

Adesina also faulted the Waziri of Adamawa for describing Buhari as power drunk.

He noted that though a retired military general, Buhari has demonstrated in many ways that he was a committed democrat, and has no apologies about that.

“But power drunk? No! And being a man “who will not be ready to leave power without a fight?” Never! Not President Buhari, who has demonstrated in many ways that he is a committed democrat, though also a retired military general. He has no apologies about that.

“If there’s one person not intoxicated by power, it is President Buhari, and scores of millions of Nigerians know this.

“That is why they will invest him with power again next year, knowing that he won’t misuse or misapply what has been entrusted to him.

“Former VP Abubakar may want to borrow a leaf from the decorous language employed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in answering his recent press statement on the restructuring debate.

“That is the hallmark of statesmen, and not crying wolf where none exists, which is what the allegation of being uncompromising and power drunk truly is.

“President Buhari is actuated by service to country, and nothing else. So, there couldn’t be anything like “not ready to leave power without a fight.”

The Presidential aide assured Abubakar that there would be no ‘fight’ over power “under President Buhari’s watch.

“The people don’t want a fight. It is some political leaders we must beseech to eschew pugnacity, and mind their language,’’ he added.