Poverty, unemployment, getting worse, says Atiku
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.
Atiku, however, noted that following the
creation of states, the Federal Government became very powerful while
the federating units became poor, thereby, deepening poverty among the
populace
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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