Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is vying for Presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the decision of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, to also contest the position for APC’s ticket for the 2015 presidential election.
In a statement signed by Atiku, he noted that the task of rescuing Nigeria “is a duty leaders of the APC are committed to”, adding that if there are more people willing to do the rescue job, it even makes things better.
“Nigeria has floundered for far too long. Our people are yearning for a change and we must listen to them before they lose faith in the ability of their leaders to revive the country,” the statement read.
He restated his priority, if given the chance to rule the country as addressing the issues of jobs creation and providing decent employment for Nigerians, especially the youths.
“I believe that it is only when we can provide decent jobs for our young people, that we can have a hope for the decent future for our country,” he noted.
According to him, it is obvious that successive administrations in the country have failed woefully in building the infrastructure that can promote a healthy economy in Nigeria. “Our education system is in shambles, public health system is in virtual comatose, we have very poor network of roads totally at variance with the wealth of a country that is the seventh oil producer in the world”.
He expressed the commitment of the APC to devolution of powers and resources to the state governments, as he noted that excessive centralisation of functions and resources to the government at the centre is largely responsible for the ineffectiveness of the government.
He also expressed displeasure at ethno-religious division, which has become commonplace in the country, “and how we are steadily and dangerously losing a sense of community where every Nigerian can live together without mutual suspicion”.
Atiku said the next president of Nigeria, which will be from the APC “by God’s grace”, must be a unifying factor in the country. The person must also be a visionary leader.
He said he had no doubts that General Buhari shares similar concern about the country’s situation with him. He therefore welcomed the APC leader on board as he looks forward to a healthy rivalry “in an open, free and fair contest for the ticket.”
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