Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the political will to tackle the the present security challenges in the country with massive killings and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country by members of the Boko Haram sect.
He also described the situation as worrisome and appalling, just as he stressed that there was the urgent need to restore law and order as well as protect unarmed civilians whom he noted were often victims of terror attacks carried out by the insurgents.
Atiku who spoke with Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja, noted that growing insecurity has undermined the country’s economy as well as impacted negatively on Nigeria’s reputation in the international community, said, “the security situation in the country,
“I must admit it is appalling. I have never seen it this bad – not even during the civil war did we have this sense of insecurity all over the country.”
The former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC who explained that Nigeria required a leadership that has the political will and wherewithal to resolve the security threats the country faces, said, “What we need to have in place is a political leadership that has the will, the courage and the determination to restore law and order.
“Restoring law and order is a multifaceted approach; both social, economic as well as security. You must have a political leadership that has vision, the will and the courage to pursue those multifaceted approaches. It’s not supported by any empirical evidence.
“I think we should stop passing the buck at each other,” he said, adding “As long as this security situation is concerned, we should work as a team, the whole country. Whether opposition, whether ruling party, we should work as a team to make sure that we restore peace, unity and stability.”
Speaking on 2015 Presidential election, the former Vice President who boasted that the APC has a real chance to defeat the PDP in the presidential election next year, said, “I have never seen a climate that gives the opposition so much hope than today.
“Because since the return of democracy, Nigeria has been governed by only one ruling political party, and Nigerians really want to see a change. I toured the country and this sense of change is pervasive. So if the APC can put its house in order, Nigerians will give that party the opportunity.”
When asked on whether he was not using his position as chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the opposition group to once again launch his presidential ambition to lead the APC in elections next year, he said, “All I was trying to do is to make sure that we provided Nigerians an alternative opposition.
“This is because I am a firm believer in a two-party system. A two-party system will provide Nigerians with alternatives from time to time. A single major or powerful political party will result into a one party system and will ultimately land us into the hands of a dictator. And God-forbid, I don’t wish to live and see a dictator in Nigeria.”
Abubakar who admitted that he was helping to build a formidable party to challenge the PDP in next year’s election, however declined to say whether he will be the presidential candidate for the APC or not.
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