All Progressives Congress chieftain and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has expressed concerns about the level of underdevelopment in Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria is currently at a crossroads as poverty, unemployment, inflation, infant mortality and other social vices are on the increase.
He, therefore, called on Nigerians to unite in the demand for true federalism. Atiku said this while delivering his speech at the formal public presentation of the Daily Stream newspaper in Abuja on Thursday.
He said, “A huge pall of pessimism hangs over a section of the
citizenry, and the ranks of those who harbour real doubt about the
future of the country swell by the day.
“The country is truly at a crossroads, and things are made
worse by the cocktail of economic, social and political problems which
we have had to contend with, and which add to the abysmally low
estimation of our country even by its own citizens.”
The former Vice-President recalled that life was better in the
First Republic because each region was allowed to grow at its own pace
while the Federal Government was weaker.
He added, “Our beloved country has been in the throes of severe
and debilitating social and economic problems. Virtually all the
development indices have not been favourable: massive and pervasive poverty,
double-digit inflation, unemployment, dwindling foreign exchange
receipts, poor GDP growth rates, high infant and maternal mortality,
high levels of illiteracy, and millions of school-age children out of
school.”
Atiku
said the many problems facing the nation were already threatening the
unity and the existence of the country. He, therefore, urged Nigerians
to come together to renegotiate the terms of our union.
The former vice-president said no leader could make far-reaching
positive changes in the country except the current political structure
is changed.
He added, “To be sure, good leaders do make a difference in the
fortunes of countries. However, leaders operate within structural
constraints imposed by constitutions, laws and regulations and the local
and world economy.
“But the most germane question we need to ask ourselves is:
must we really continue to live together as one country amidst such a
pervasive climate of disunity, which is impeding our development?
“My prompt answer to this is yes, we should remain together
because it is the best option, and because we will be stronger, greater,
and better in one piece than in pieces.”
Attempts to get reactions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s
spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, did not succeed. He had not responded to
an email and an SMS sent to him as of the time of sending this report.
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