Nigeria Not Developing: Hunger And Unemployment On The Increase-ATIKU
BANKOLE ABE
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has complained of the increase in hunger and inflation rate in the country, attributing it to the deliberate refusal of the country to restructure.
He observed that almost all the features to look out for in a developing country are missing in Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar said this when he spoke at the formal public presentation of the Daily Stream newspaper, at the Banquet Hall, Nigeria Air force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. He spoke on a paper titled; “The Challenge of Unity, Diversity and National Development: Nigeria at a Crossroads”,
He said Nigeria will continue to swim in one challenge or the other until its leaders decide to get the structures right and perfect the federalism system currently operating in the country.
He said the current system, that is based on sharing rather than production, is clearly not helping the development of the nation.
In his words,
“For Nigeria to develop – or even make any appreciable progress – we must restructure Nigeria’s political, administrative and political architecture.
“That way we can free resources that would otherwise go to unviable ventures and projects, then commit same to areas that directly cater for and benefit the people.”
“However, I am not here just to lament over the sad and unenviable state of affairs in Nigeria.
“I firmly believe in the viability of the Nigerian Project, I remain unshaken and completely persuaded that we can eventually change the story of Nigeria for good by collectively making Nigeria a productive, prosperous, peaceful and united nation whose people are happy and contented and one that is able to really lead Africa and assume a pride of place in the comity of nations,” he added.
He stressed the need to come together and discuss and agree on the kind of federal structure best for the country.
According to him, under his leadership, state governments in Nigeria would be allowed to pay their workers’ salaries based on their respective financial standing.
