I Will Beat Buhari In 2019 - Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he will beat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election because the President has wasted a lot of his massive goodwill

Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, has expressed confidence in beating President Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku said President Buhari had wasted a lot of his massive goodwill and that Nigerians were tired of leaders who could not think big and work big.

Atiku was addressing the issue of his presidential ambition for the first time since his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, Atiku said he decided not to wait and participate in the APC primary election because the party had become a one-man business.

The former Vice President expressed optimism of defeating President Buhari in 2019 saying he has lost a lot of goodwill.

"After Buhari won the election, he was no longer interested in the party that made him President. Every activity stopped and not even the party Chairman, John Oyegun, could take any decision," Atiku said.

"I called Chief Oyegun a few times to tell him our party was dying slowly but he told me he would not do anything unless he got clearance from the President.

"At a stage, I gathered about 18 prominent members and began to meet in the hope that we can re-energise party activities, but some people lied to the President that I wanted to use the forum to launch my Presidential campaign.

"That forum became simply dead on arrival. No BOT, no NEC meetings, as stipulated in our Constitution."

On his perception of the 2019 elections, Atiku expressed optimism it will fall in his feavour.

"I will definitely beat him this time. A lot of people are disgruntled but keeping quiet and lying low.

"Our youths are suffering terribly and now they are being sold into slavery.

"Everyone knows my track record of inviting and attracting a good team and giving them the opportunity to work professionally.

"Nigerians are tired of leaders who cannot think big and work big. Dele, I will be ready from day one…" he added.