*Accuses President Of Lacking Political Will, Insensitivity
By our reporter
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer in the 2023 presidential poll and former Vice President (VP) Atiku Abubakar has tutored the government of President Bola Tinubu on how the administration of then President Olusegun Obasanjo decisively fought insecurity.
Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku, was VP under Obasanjo. Their administration ran from 1999-2007.
His accusation came amid several assurances by the Federal Government, from time to time, that it was on top of the nation’s security situation.
Addressing a delegation of stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial Zone, led by former Kogi State Deputy Governor Simon Achuba,in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Thursday, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of lacking in political will to halt the bloodfest across the land occasioned by terrorist activities.
According to him, what the administration allegedly lacks, the Obasanjo regime had in huge volumes.
Atiku said: “How can leaders remain unmoved while their people are being slaughtered?
“Such indifference is the peak of irresponsibility for any political leader, anywhere in the world.
“I hold our current leadership accountable for the widespread insecurity plaguing our nation. There is a lack of political will.
“Let me remind you of when Boko Haram first emerged in 2002, during our time in office. The president summoned me and asked, ‘Mr Vice President, what should we do about this?’ It began in Yobe.
“I advised him to call the service chiefs and set a clear deadline: if they couldn’t quell the insurgency, they should resign.
“The president summoned the service chiefs; I was present, and issued firm orders.
“Within weeks, the insurgents in Yobe were subdued, and the threat did not resurface until after we left office.”
Turning to the issue of inadequate policing nationwide, the former VP also fired a shot at the Federal Government, saying it should recruit personnel from the army of unemployed graduates that dots the country to ensure the nation was adequately policed.
His words: “We are under-policed. There simply aren’t enough officers across the country, while many educated young people remain without jobs. Why not recruit them into the police force?”
Again, Atiku spoke of an emerging mega coalition that seeks to oust the Tinubu administration in 2027, citing what he described as the incompetence and inefficiency of the administration.
According to him, the coalition draws membership from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), PDP and Labour Party (LP), stressing the imperative for unity.
“We are building a coalition involving all major political parties—the APC, PDP, and Labour Party. This is the only viable path forward to confront an incompetent and inefficient government. You have my full understanding and support,” Atiku explained.
Also speaking, Achuba expressed disappointment over the surge in violence, kidnappings, and the destruction of communities across the North.
According to him, the Federal Government has neglected its constitutional role of safeguarding the lives and property of the citizenry.
He said: “The government has done very little to ease this crisis, despite it being their responsibility.
“When the government fails to act decisively, it falls on Northern leaders to step up. We must begin the process of internal healing and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among ourselves.”
