The Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said he may grant amnesty to looter of the nation’s treasury if they would repatriate their stolen money to build the economy.
Abubakar spoke at ‘The Candidate’, a debate programme organised by the NTA, for Presidential candidates in Abuja on Wednesday.
The moderator, Kadariah Ahmed, had asked Atiku if corrupt persons would be granted amnesty if he becomes President.
“Why not? I give you an example of Turkey. Turkey gave amnesty and all the monies taken abroad were brought back and the government said when you bring the money back, you don’t need to pay taxes. Invest in manufacturing, technology and real estate.
“And look at Turkey today. It is like any other European country today,” he answered.
Abubakar also refused to bear the blame for the poverty level in his home state of Adamawa, saying, as one of the two main employers of labour in Adamawa State, he was not responsible for the perceived high poverty rate in the state.
According to him, anyone might argue that an individual was incapable of ending poverty.
His vice presidential running mate, Peter Obi, said that instead of being condemned, Atiku should be commended for being the only presidential candidate in Nigeria who has not only made a success of his own life, but he is also an employer of labour, apart from the Adamawa State Government.
