EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: A Breakdown On Atiku's Policy Document - Segun Showunmi

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SEGUN SHOWUNMI, SPOKESMAN OF ATIKU ABUBAKAR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTION, HE HAD A CHAT WITH OUR EDITOR IN CHIEF ABOUT ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR`S BLUE PRINT TO TRANSFORM NIGERIA AND OTHER SUNDRY NATIONAL ISSUES.

EXCERPT:
Please sir, give us a brief background about yourself and the role you play in Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization

My name is Segun Showunmi, I’m the Director of Media and Publicity of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization, I have equally served as Director General to former President Dr. Good Luck Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization in Ogun State as well as Deputy Director campaign 2015, former Deputy Chief Press Secretary to former Ogun State governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Director of organization, Peoples democratic party(PDP), Media Analyst to Ogun State Government and a Public Analyst. Generally, I’m a politically exposed person, who has mastered the art of narrative in the public place. I`m a Pan Nigerian and I think of the best that can happen to Nigeria, I believe in a democratic process, it must be encouraged to be stable, African Nations especially Nigeria must situate itself properly in the comity of nations and begin to provide value for its own citizen and show direction to the black people, since they are the most populated black race on earth. I`m a lucky person, always in a happy mood. I`m hardly sad, very enthusiastic and committed person to any course. I’m married with children.

It is in public domain that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has many years of experience, both in public and private business. Kindly give a breakdown of his profile and experiences so possessed. How efficient has he managed his chains of businesses?

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was born 71years ago in Jedda Adamawa State. He is son of his parent, he had sister, the mother was like other rural woman, who was into petty trading, he lost his father very early at the age of 11years, he began to demonstrate his early genius in the field of business, when during his holiday jobs, he keep his money earned with his mother and used them to do some trading activities around him, it was unbelievable that such mini trading, he was able buy a house for his mother at very early stage .He move very quickly to secondary, at that time it was native authority that was in charge of schools in the Northern part of Nigeria. He move from there to do Diploma in law in Ahmad Bello University (ABU) Zaria, at that time, it was premier school of basic studies, when he finished, like any other person, he was fortunate to be enlisted into the Nigeria custom service while at Nigeria custom, he was one of those junior officers referred to as super corps, known to be no nonsense officer, if given a job, he gets the job done. For many years he enjoyed a lot of eulogies as a custom officer, at a point, he was in charge of the whole northern borders, having the responsibility of managing the northern borders to track down smugglers. At one time, he had the opportunity of be in charge of international gate way in one of the international airport, who ensured the 53 briefcases containing money did not get into the country and shut under the carpet. Besides, while in custom, he rose very quickly, he did a lot of good things; he was a member of the committee, on port decongestion in 70s. He did very well in the committee; he distinguished himself as a very honest person. His outstanding performances move him quickly to the position of Deputy Director in Nigeria custom service. Because of his desire for business, he left Nigeria custom service to join business community. Apart from the fact, that he had pre- desire for business in early life as in trading, cars hire purchases, building houses for sale etc. When he left the Nigeria customs service, his friend came up with business concept, this time around, logistic company, which he quickly buy into, they started as Nicotex, which later transform to INTELS, fortunately the company later became a goldmine. As a logistics company, it was met to manage logistics around oil and gas and ports in Nigeria, before you know it, they went into other African countries and beyond. For the purposes of emphasis, it is a lucrative business, virtually every single thing, the port and oil and gas needed within their domain are to be provided by Logistics Company, this include but not limited to the provision of houses, water, electricity, cooks and cars etc It was an opportunity that was there, nobody wanted to take. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was fortunate to take the advantage. He managed it well and become a very successful man. Looking back, Atiku has been diligent and very lucky in business, recalled in 1992, when he was one the presidential candidate of SDP who came third after MKO Abiola, and Baba Gana Kingibe. In that election, where we have the like of MKO Abiola who was already a billionaire, no clear winner was declared, a run- off was to be conducted, Atiku was to back MKO Abiola, it was clear, whoever Atiku Abubaker back will win the primary election and to the Glory of God, he backed MKO Abiola and he won the election. So, Atiku Ababakar has been very lucky and successful businessman. He is a person, who constantly improves himself. Concern about deplorable economic condition of country and his desire to help the down trodden and help them get a means of livelihood, he has since, diversify his business into a more beneficial human needs, this include but not limited to Agriculture, real estate, Micro finance Banking, printing, Media, manufacturing, blue stocks, production of water/beverages and schools etc. From the very beginning, Atiku has proved to be an entrepreneurial person, he has sticks to that ambition; as a business maverick, he has what it takes to transform every sector of Nigeria economy. The experience and the antecedent shown here, portray a successful story of his businesses, this drive, is what he intend to put into practice to rescue Nigeria economy. He a Pan- Nigeria, nice person, who have built relationship across length and breadth of Nigeria, he is a happy man, he has lovely family and his children are well brought up. He is a kind person; Nigeria would want to learn many things from him.

We are aware, political campaign is gaining momentum, what are the blue prints of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to transform Nigeria especially the economy and security that is already in the shamble

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is going to be running issue based campaign. He will give priority to job creation, infact, job creation will be the centre policy of his government. Simply put, every day Atiku spend on the chair at ASO ROCK is going to be busy with the issues of job creation for the ever increasing populations, this will happen by creating enable environment for public private partnership to function and expand their scope. He going to ensure Nigeria becomes next destination of choice, where business can be conducted, where you have good road network, constant electricity supply and safe environment etc. The Unity of Nigeria will be vigorously pursued for you to do this, as a person you must have good relationship within the structures of the country. Atiku has over whelming relationship across the six geographical zone of the country. In the South West, he is married to one of their daughter, in Adamawa is married to one of their daughter, North Central he has longtime political and community relationship, for instance in Tiv land, he has one of the highest Chieftaincy title given a non-indigene while in South South he has his business interest, where he did a lot of social responsibility to the community out there .While in South east he also have a marriage relationship. He is kind of a person who has Shehu Musa Yara- dua`s ideology of building bridges to unit Nigeria that seem to move away people from ethnic and clannish mentality. On security, Atiku has been very busy on that, he would carry out security audit to enable it reposition security for a better performance, he would ensure the necessary security equipment are acquire for the soldiers to carry out their job, create necessary frame work to enhance Federal Police, State and Community Police as may be deem fit by different tiers of government. There would be enable environment that would allow all them to work together to ensure maximum security for all Nigerian to have a sleep with their two eyes closed. He captures all of these, in a single statement:“ Let’s get Nigeria working again”
Alhaji Atiku Aubakar as the candidate of people democratic party (PDP) , What are his competitive edge over other party presidential candidates that will make win 2019 general election.

From the recent development, you will observe that we are matching towards two party system that is PEOPLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS, have equal match, People Democratic Party is a National Party they were in government before and they are challenging APC, the ruling party, we can confidently say that our democracy is getting mature like you have in most of the advance countries of the world like USA, UK, RUSSIA and others, they always have two party system, be this, as it may, Ever body would expect a good conduct in this forth coming elections. In terms of his competitive edge, one, he a politician I say this with every sense of responsibility, in politics, we learn the art of building consensus and carry people along, Atiku as a person, has this attribute as a politician, he would be more acceptable by the people because he would likely going to give people sense of belong in his government. As a businessman, yes, he has what it takes to run an economy that work, not just a mere businessman but business person with conglomerates that have capacity to deliver on large scale of service, you can imagine this kind of person with this background running an economy, he would not any problem . Atiku is known to be detribalized Nigerian, what this to the table is that he would be running a government of inclusiveness that will give a sense of belong to everyone. No tribe would feel hurt, no ethnic and clan would be left behind, we need that right now to unite Nigeria together. He is also known to be a visionary leader because he is very futuristic in his thinking, therefore I think Atiku is the right man to connect Nigeria to the port of industrial revolution which will give us a very fast space economy. Over and above that, Atiku is very straight forward and discipline, because he has gone through the structure while in custom service, he understands the management of the structure, with well define position and role, control and communication, transparent process, this will keep people inform, how government services are run Atiku is a man that has this country at heart for long time couple with the fact that some particular section of the country feels marginalized to this extent, he is going to restructure the country, he is going to work on the restructuring to get the federation that works for all Nigerians. The above cutting edge will be difficult for other candidates beat or match.
What is your take in the issue of vote buying considering what happened in Ekiti and Osun State governorship election? How can we stop it?
It is a sad situation, as bad as it, we will continue to beg Nigerians and sensitize them to know that their votes is their power and that, it is not good for them to relinquish it with token that will not fetch development. They should know, selling your votes is tantamount to selling their right and future development. As nation, if we take the matter to a point where citizen will know the importance of election and their votes. Then, we can begin to reduce the impact and consequence. For now, it is up to INEC, security agencies and legislators to legislate laws in this respect, such that there will be sanction and punishment for any culprit. When Atiku become president, he will use the instrument of state to sensitize the people through National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Information to ensure, we keep out all the vices of our electoral process. It is up to all politicians, INECT, Security Agencies to ensure that the political process is transparent, free and fair, credible come 2019 general election, so that we can match the bench mark of other countries and be proud of ourselves as people.

What is your message to Nigerians in this period of election?

The message to all Nigeria is that they should take this election seriously, it is more like a referendum for Nigeria to decide what they want, that is deciding their own fate, who is that person that will solve their problems, who going to put food on their tables, who will make the students live well, who will make sure the workers get a living wage, who will protect the people, who can protect and build the economy, who can give them sense of belong that will show Nigeria truly to all us, who can get electricity working non-stop?. In my opinion, you will find out that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the man who can provide all of these as quickly as possible to get Nigeria out of the manmade shambles. On this note, we are calling on all Nigerians to vote for him and join hands with him in the campaign that will be based on issues to avoid violence and thuggry, every Nigeria should get themselves prepare for this election, the early we reduce money politics and vote buying , the better for all of us. I wish Nigeria and all Nigerians well. let’s join hands with Atiku Abubakar to get Nigeria working again. Thank you God bless you all.

Credit: Leadership Impact Africa