Atiku Abubakar Exposes The Cause Of Insecurity In Nigeria

Atiku Abubakar who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections has said poverty is the
main reason why Nigeria is faced with the challenge of insecurity.

The former vice president made the statement while Speaking on the theme: Education: A pathway to exit the dubious record of being the world headquarters for extreme poverty, at the 14th founder’s day celebration of the America University of Nigeria in Yola on Saturday, 30th November. Atiku said poverty exists in Nigeria because of illiteracy adding that the poverty circle in Nigeria could only be overcome by educating the Nigerian people.

In his words: “The reason why we have insecurity is because we have poverty, and the reason why we have poverty is because we have illiteracy. It is a cycle that we can only break by educating our people. For the past four years, our education budgets have demonstrated the fact that developing the minds of our people has not been our priority.”

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The former Vice President also said that a friend of his, Prof. Anya O. Anya, who is a former chief executive officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) two weeks ago revealed that Nigeria has taken more loans in the last three years than it has taken in the 30-year period preceding 2016. He criticized and questioned the country's monumental increase in borrowings compared with an unprecedented reduction in investments in education.

“I am a businessman. Perhaps the first lesson one learns in business is that you do not take loans except it is to expand your business. There is no justification for taking out loans to pay salaries; meanwhile, you are not investing in your future generation. “Education is the principal thing. When we get this right, we will get Nigeria right. The easiest way, to make the most significant impact, in the shortest amount of time, is via education.” Atiku said.

He added that instead of doing many things and doing them poorly, it would be better for the Nigerian federal government and the federating units to focus on doing one or two things so that we can do them well.