Former Nigerian Vice President has narrated the story of his birth and early life which he said is similar to the story of many people of his generation.
Atiku, while formally declaring his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Shehu Musa Yar’aduda Centre in Abuja on Wednesday said that he was born in a southern Adamawa village to a nomadic trader and his wife who was a farmer.
“I grew up as a shepherd and a farm boy. I was the only child of my parents. My father had to be imprisoned by Local Council authorities before he could allow me to go to school.
“At 11, I lost my father and my whole world fell apart. With the help of my mother, other relatives and friends of my father, I pulled myself up from this doldrums and despair. I faced the future with uncommon confidence, hope and faith in God.
“I am where I am today because I did not give up. I struggled to acquire a good education because the opportunity was made available. Most people never had a chance and their potentials were never discovered and their contributions to national development thus curtailed.”
Atiku said that he is worried today that too many of the young people who could have improved their lives and that of this nation have not been getting the opportunities to do so.
He said that the 20 years that he spent in the Nigerian public service, he was able to build a solid reputation for himself as a diligent, honest, hardworking and innovative staff, adding that he retired as an accomplished and fulfilled public servant. “That is what every Nigerian who had diligently served this country deserves and not dehumanization, humiliation and neglect.”
The former Vice President said that he became politically active in 1987 because his imagination was captured by a leader, Late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who started with persistent determination and diligence to construct bridges of understanding and love across the ethno-religious divides inherent in our society. “He convinced all of us who were bold to defy the status quo to participate in his noble passion. We were convinced that it was the only way to preserve our national unity and establish a structure of peace necessary for national development. Even after his death, we have continued with renewed vigour to pursue this dream.
“My politics have always been guided by the enduring values of fairness and justice, honesty of purpose, the pursuit of excellence, selflessness and the love for my country.”These values also characterize my conduct in business.” [myad]
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