Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has explained why the country has become more divided.
President Muhammadu Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, according to Atiku, has been unjust to all sections of the country.
According to the presidential candidate, the country was not so divided during the civil war, and insecurity has been a huge issue for the country. Atiku talked to PDP delegates in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday ahead of the upcoming presidential primaries.
The 2019 PDP presidential contender claimed that the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, which he served as Vice President under from 1999 to 2007, brought Nigerians together by building a government of national unity.
If there is no unity and harmony, the Waziri Adamawa says it will be difficult to manage a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation.
He vowed to bring Nigeria together by instilling a sense of belonging in all citizens, combating insecurity, and implementing his economic development plan to transform the country.
He promised that, if elected president, he would ensure that powers are devolved from states and local governments and that he would not disappoint Nigerians.
"Even throughout the civil war, we have never seen the level of discord we have now in our country; and why do we have disunity?" It's because the APC government hasn't treated all of the country equally, "Atiku explained. He promised to unite Nigeria but noted that "we did it before when we came on board in 1999."
He recalled how a sitting governor promised to guarantee local government sovereignty while running for president just a few days before.
"You can see the hypocrisy from some of our officials," he remarked, referring to the governor's refusal to give local governments in his state autonomy. He promised to push for constitutional changes that would give states and local governments more power and resources.
"I guarantee you that if you vote for me, I will not disappoint you or Nigeria," he declared. Hon. Ladi Adebutu, a governorship candidate in Ogun, also lamented the level of insecurity and unemployment but expressed optimism.