$type=ticker$count=12$cols=4$cate=0

Atiku opens up on real reason he visited America

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has penned a long article on why he decided to visit the...



Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has penned a long article on why he decided to visit the United States of America.

The former vice-president's ability to visit the US was shrouded in controversy, over the belief that he was facing corruption charges.

However, Atiku touched down in Washington on Thursday and spoke at the Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

Atiku stated that he travelled to the US, because he has a mission to "create the right economic atmosphere for American investments to return to Nigeria".


Full text below:

It has become pertinent for me to speak about my ongoing visit to the United States of America, where I have met and I am still meeting with the U.S. administration officials and business leaders.

I travelled to the United States of America because I have a mission, which is to create the right economic atmosphere for American investments to return to Nigeria at a rate and quantum that we had before the current Nigerian administration's policies almost halted the flow of foreign direct investments to Nigeria.

I am in America because Atiku means jobs.

My reason for running for the office of president of Nigeria and even for going into public service in the first place, is because I believe that Nigeria has what it takes to be the beacon of hope for the black race and a leading nation of reckoning in the international community.

This has not materialised over the course of the last four years because, as Chinua Achebe prophetically said in his 1983 book, "the trouble with Nigeria is the failure of leadership."

The current Nigerian administration has allowed our relationship with our long-standing friends and partners to deteriorate and this has had unfortunate consequences for our economy.

Foreign relations that had been meticulously and delicately built for decades were allowed to deteriorate because members of the incumbent administration mistook their personal interests as the interests of Nigeria and allowed short term goals to dominate their foreign policies.

New friendships should not be made at the cost of old friendships. It is not an either-or situation. Right from Independence, Nigeria has nurtured a policy of non-alignment. We borrowed from the Lincoln policy of malice toward none and charity for all. Sadly, that policy has suffered major setbacks in the last four years.

As a leader in business, I am cognisant of the fact that both Western and Oriental nations will be making the transition from fossil fuels to electric powered vehicles and other green energies over the course of the next two decades. This means that Nigeria's oil has a limited shelf life.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed and we must, as a nation, begin to make the transition from an oil economy to a modern one based on manufacturing and value-added agricultural chain.

…my vision is for trade to go both ways. Nigeria has a lot to offer America via her creative industry (Nollywood is the world's third largest movie industry) and rich mining sectors (Nigeria's Kaduna State is rich in gold ore). I am also eager to find a market in the U.S. for some of the half a million shoes manufactured in Nigeria's cities of Kano and Aba everyday.

The message I took to the United States business community is not a new message. In my opinion editorial in the British media ("Beyond Brexit – Nigeria wants a new trade deal with Britain"), I submitted that Brexit is an opportunity for Nigeria and the United Kingdom to have a Big Ambitious Free Trade Agreement.

It is only common sense.

In 2014, the African continent as a whole earned $2.4 billion from coffee grown in Africa and shipped mainly to Europe. That sounds impressive. However, one nation alone, Germany, made $3.8 billion from re-exporting Africa's coffee in 2014.

As a businessman, I see this and I cannot allow it to continue. It is unconscionable, but situations like these will not stop unless Nigeria and Africa have leadership that thinks business, instead of aid, and capital instead of loans.

Nigeria has, perhaps, the highest populations of youth as a segment of the total population, in the world. Already, we have the unfortunate distinction of being the world headquarters of extreme poverty. We cannot afford business as usual. My single-minded focus is to change this dubious record by transforming Nigeria from a consumer nation to a prosumer nation (a nation that consumes what it produces).

For this to happen, we need U.S. firms who have divested from Nigeria, to return. We need Procter and Gamble to reopen its $300 million Nigerian plant, which it shut down last year. We need General Electric to reverse its $2.7 billion pull out of Nigeria.

And my vision is for trade to go both ways. Nigeria has a lot to offer America via her creative industry (Nollywood is the world's third largest movie industry) and rich mining sectors (Nigeria's Kaduna State is rich in gold ore). I am also eager to find a market in the U.S. for some of the half a million shoes manufactured in Nigeria's cities of Kano and Aba everyday.

Someone somewhere said Nigeria's youth are lazy. I am one of the single largest employers of Nigeria's youth and I know that assertion is false. My travels in Europe and America is to sell the Nigeria that I know to the world that does not yet know her. A Nigeria with not just a hardworking youthful population, but a nation with some of the smartest working people on earth. A nation that is open for business and a Nigeria that is much more than oil.

And I am certain that if I am successful in selling this Nigeria to the world, the world will come to Nigeria for business. That is why I am in America. Because I believe in JOBS – Jobs, Opportunity, Being United and Security and it is time Nigeria and all Nigerians finally have the opportunity to realise their true potentials.



COMMENTS

BLOGGER

/fa-clock-o/ WEEK TRENDING$type=list

Name

#bbnaija,2,2019,1,2019 elections,3,2face idibia,7,About Us,1,accident,21,Action,1,Adeboye,1,Africa,21,africa news,37,Africam News,1,African Beauty,12,African history,1,african news,5,African Students,2,africatourism,1,Agriculture,17,Almajiri,1,ambode,24,Android,3,Animals,1,anthony joshua,3,APC,30,Apostle Johnson Suleiman,7,Apostle Suleiman,1,Apple,1,Arsenal FC,3,Art,1,article,7,Articles,1,Arts and Culture,4,Assurance Davido,1,ASUU,7,autos,1,Award,31,Ayo Fayose,4,Ayodele Fayose,1,bangladesh,1,barcelona fc,14,basketball,1,bb naija,1,bbcyoruba,1,BBnaija,41,BEAUTY,24,bet awards,1,Beuty,1,beyonce mass,1,biafra,28,Bitcoin,1,Black Panther,3,Blackberry updates,3,Blackpanther,1,blog,2,Blogger,53,Bloggers Hit,22,Blogging,1,bobrisky,1,Boko Haram,86,Boko Haram Crisis,32,Boko-haram,19,Boko-Haran,1,BOKOHARAM,8,Bolo Haram Crisis,5,Bovi,1,boxer,6,boxing,1,Brain Teazer,1,Breaking,134,Breaking News,1618,Breakinh,1,Brealing,1,BREXIT,2,Bruno Mars,1,budget,8,Buhari,196,Buratai,1,bursaries,2,BUSINESS,171,Business Breaking,1,CAC church,1,Calabar,1,cambridge exams,3,CAN,2,Cancet,1,career,4,Cars,1,Ceelebrities,1,Celebrities,636,Celebrity,11,Celebs,10,Celerities,8,chamions league,8,champion's league,28,Champions league,2,Champions' League,1,CHEATS,27,chelsea fc,85,chemistry,1,chibok girls,3,Chioma,1,christiano Ronaldo,43,Comedy,10,Commonwealth,2,Corruption,5,Court,1,Crime,108,Crisis,134,Crisis in Nigeria,57,Culture,1,daddy freeze,1,daily devotion,1,dangote,7,Dansuki,4,Dapchi Girls,1,dapchigirls,1,Dasuki,3,Davido,40,Dbanj,1,Diezani Alison Madueke,1,dino melaye,7,disaster,4,diy,8,dk odukoya,2,DK Olukoya,1,dollar,1,Don Jazzy,1,Donald Trump,82,drug abuse,1,Drugs,7,Earth Science,6,earthquake,1,Easter,3,ecowas,4,Education,281,EFCC,96,Eid-El-Kabir,6,Ekiti,2,ekiti decides,27,Ekiti Elections,2,Ekiti States,1,el rufai,1,ELECTION,51,Election 2019,1,emenuella,1,Emir Kano,4,Employment opportunities,3,En Son Dakika haberleri,1,enter,1,Entertainement,1,Entertainment,1083,Entertainment Latest News,1,Entertainments,3,Entetainment,2,environment,1,EpicGames,2,epl,5,Ese,1,Essay Competitions,1,EU,1,euro2024,1,Europeaun Commission,1,evans,1,event,4,Events,11,Facebook,7,FACEBOOK TRICKS,5,facebook update,28,fani Kayode,3,Fashion,46,father's day,1,Fayose,5,featured,2,federal government,83,Fellowships,1,femi adesina,1,FG,1,fight,1,finance,74,Finances,1,fitness,3,flavour,1,flood,1,Folorunsho Alakija,1,football,306,football Europa League,1,Foreign,156,Fraud,39,Fuel Scarcity,13,fulani herdsmen,23,Funny,47,FUTURE TECH,16,game,3,gay pastor,2,Ghana,1,gist,69,goo,1,Goodluck Jonathan,1,Google,13,google i/o 2018,1,Google9ja,44,google9ja news,2874,gossip,28,Gov. Amosun,1,Gov. Fayose,28,graduate jobs,1,Graduates,2,Grammy Award,2,Guinness Book Of Record,1,hack,1,HACKERS,6,hajj,1,Headlines,1,Health,134,healthy food,1,Healthy Living,23,hemp,1,herdsmen,5,Hilarious,2,Hip hop,2,history,1,holiday,1,house of reps,2,How to Create a website,1,hushpuppi,1,Ibadan,3,independence,7,INEC,8,inspirational,6,International,1,International Scholarships,3,internet,7,interns,1,Internships,6,interview,2,interviews,1,Investment,1,Investor,1,iphone,17,iphones,2,ipob,1,IS,1,isis,1,israel,2,Israel Palestine crisis,1,JAMB,3,jenifa,8,Jerusalem,2,jibrin,1,Jobs,68,John Terry,1,Jokes,1,Jonathan,1,Jose mourinho,13,justin Timbalake,1,kaduna,20,Kanu Nwakwo,1,Kanye west,1,Kardashian,1,kardashians,1,Kardeshian,1,Kardeshians,1,kelvin hart,1,kelvinhart,1,Kemi olunloyo,1,kidnap,21,kim kardashians,9,kingship,7,Lagos,5,lagos state,49,Lagos train project,1,lai mohammed,3,Lassa Fever,3,Lastest News,2,lat,1,Latest News,970,Latest Nigeria In News. Nigeria News. Your online Nigerian Newspaper.,669,Latest Nigeria News. Nigerian News. Your online Nigerian Newspaper.,819,latest Nigerian jobs,1,Latests News,1,lawyers,3,Leadership,1,league,2,Life,2,Life style,96,Lifestyle,35,Lifstyle,1,Linda Ikeji's Blog,1,Linda versus Wizkid,1,Linda vrs Wizkid,1,Linda vrs Wizzy,1,Live Update,1,Live Updates,5,lol,13,London,1,Love,18,Manchester United,28,market place,2,Masters Scholarships,1,mbaka,1,mecca,1,mercy Aigbe,3,Mercy Johnson,1,messi,26,mfm prayer points,8,MFM Prayers,14,MFM Sermons,2,mimiko,1,minimum wage,1,miracle prayers,12,MKO Abiola,2,MMM,3,Mobile Phone,1,Model,1,Model United Nations,2,moji olaiya,1,Money,1,monkeys,1,motivation,4,Movie,52,Movies,3,MTN,1,MTN NIGERIA,10,mugabe,1,MUNPlanet,2,Music,17830,NAFDAC,1,Naija,2598,Naija News,1,Naija Entertainment,1,Naija New,4,Naija Newa,1,naija news,1170,naira,1,Naira devaluation,3,Naira evaluation,2,nano technology,1,NBA,3,ncc,1,NCCF,1,new,5,New music,20,New Nigeria,2,News,3800,News Nigeria,34,NewsMusic,1,newspapers,4,Niageria,1,Nicki Minaj,1,Niger Delta Avengers,37,Nigeria,17,Nigeria Air,1,Nigeria Latest News,3,nigerian,21,Nigerian Breaking News,551,Nigerian history,3,Nigerian Jobs,1,Nigerian Latest New,1,Nigerian Latest News,1223,Nigerian Latest News online,2637,Nigerian Music Entertainment,1,Nigerian Newpapers,1,Nigerian News,674,Nigerian News. Latest Nigeria News. Your online Nigerian Newspaper.,16212,Nigerian Newspaper,3,Nigerian Newspapers,1,Nigerian police apptitude test,5,Nigerian politics,184,nigerian senate house,13,Nigerian Students,2,Nigerian Super Eagles,29,Nigerians in south-Africa,3,Nih,1,nlc,1,NLC updates,2,nnamdi kanu,8,NNPC,22,Nollyhood,17,Nollywood,3,NOUN,1,NY crash,1,NYSC,19,NYSC updates,15,Obadanjo,1,Obama,5,Obasanjo,20,October 1st,3,OculusRift,1,oil and gas,1,Olamide,3,Olamide baddo,1,Olusegun Obasanjo,1,omg,2,ondo state,3,ONLINE BIZ,5,Online money,1,only in Nigeria,320,Ooni of Ife,6,ooni-ife,1,opinion,1,Orphans,1,orubebe,1,Osinbajo,2,Osun decides,10,oyo state,8,palestine,1,Pastor E. A Adeboye,1,pastor E.A Adeboye,7,pastor T.B joshua,3,paul pogba,1,PDP,4,phon,1,Phones,35,POLITICS,1790,POLİTİCS,1,POLOTICS,2,Postgraduate,1,power,1,Power holding,10,prayer,16,prayer points,5,Prayers,3,premier League,79,president,1,Products,1,proud marry,1,Public hearing,1,quiz,1,quotes,4,rat,1,RCCG,2,recruitment,4,Relationship,29,Relationships,130,Religion,112,Reviews,1,Rihana,2,rio olympics,7,ronaldinho,2,Russia 2018,17,russia2018,4,Samsung galaxy s6,1,Samsung updates,3,Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,1,Saraki,1,Satanists,1,Saudi Arabia,1,Schilarships,1,Scholarahips,1,Scholarships,1606,Scholarships 2018,1,Scholarships for Aricans,1,science,6,Security,74,Senate,2,sex doll,1,Shekau,1,shiites,1,short girls,1,short people,1,smart phones,23,smartphones,2,snake,1,socal media,1,soccer,2,social,46,Social media,1,South Africa,1,spanish league,17,Sport,17,Sporta,2,Sports,820,stolen mace,1,stolenmace,1,Stories,56,Story,1,Strategy,1,student internships,2,STUDY ABROAD,101,Style,3,Success tips,1,Sudan,1,Super Eagles,2,Tech,29,Tech matters,156,Tech News,1,Technology,1,Techs,2,Telecommunication,11,Telecommunications,1,tennis,1,terrorism,1,Test your brain,1,therock,1,TimSweeney,1,tithe,1,tompolo,1,tonto dike,3,Traineeships,1,Travel,7,Trump,3,Turkey,2,Turkieh embassy,1,turkish visa,1,Twitter,2,twitter attacks,14,uganda,1,UK,1,UK News,1,Uncategorized,4,Undergraduate Scholarships,1,Underprivileged Students,1,unemployment,6,United Kingdom,2,Updates,1,US,110,USA,1,usain bolt,1,Useful Hacks,1,UTME,3,vacancy,2,valentine,1,valentine'sday,1,Video,1,Videos,10,viral,1,virallink,4,VirtualReality,2,VISION 2020,7,vr,1,Weird,3,WEIRD NEWS,641,WEİRD NEWS,1,WEIRS NEWS,1,Whatsapp update,2,windows,1,Wired news,2,wizkid,22,wizkid in california,1,world,324,World cup,7,World News,28,World Record,2,World's statistics,1,Yahoo Tech,1,Yaya Toure,1,yemi osinbajo,21,Yobe Girls,1,Yola Girls,1,Yoruba News,1,Youth,7,Youth Opportunities,2,zimbabwe,1,
ltr
item
Google9ja | Entertainment | Nigerian Latest News online: Atiku opens up on real reason he visited America
Atiku opens up on real reason he visited America
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY0nDbatOg-eHWHQM4lONjw5FjPuj-K8xPDV__BSELAY7ajSie2ZUNOIR3wnZRToAryAgpJmWXPf79KpAfslkByqYJC8KreSVyXCYDtL-QyzjHeGM8yIlWWm8X0rPut4kiEtw0-M4XIzH/s400/atiku2.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY0nDbatOg-eHWHQM4lONjw5FjPuj-K8xPDV__BSELAY7ajSie2ZUNOIR3wnZRToAryAgpJmWXPf79KpAfslkByqYJC8KreSVyXCYDtL-QyzjHeGM8yIlWWm8X0rPut4kiEtw0-M4XIzH/s72-c/atiku2.jpg
Google9ja | Entertainment | Nigerian Latest News online
https://www.google9ja.com/2019/01/atiku-opens-up-on-real-reason-he.html
https://www.google9ja.com/
https://www.google9ja.com/
https://www.google9ja.com/2019/01/atiku-opens-up-on-real-reason-he.html
true
8173235409350904551
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS PREMIUM CONTENT IS LOCKED STEP 1: Share to a social network STEP 2: Click the link on your social network Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy Table of Content