Atiku Abubakar on Friday blasts Goodluck Jonathan’s record on security, vowing that Boko Haram could be crushed easily if politicians chose to do so.
In an interview, he accused Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of lacking the political will to end the insurgency, which has killed thousands since 2009.
“This insurgency shouldn’t have lasted even six months,” he told AFP in Abuja and recalled sectarian religious violence in the northeast state of Yobe during his time in office.
“Within weeks we crushed it because we did not neglect military training and, of course, we did not lack the leadership and the capacity to take decisions,” he added.
Nigeria’s army has in recent days claimed a number of successes against the militants, who have seized towns and villages across the far northeast in their quest for a hardline Islamic state.
The apparent military gains came after top brass admitted that Boko Haram’s land grab threatened the nation’s sovereignty and multiple reports that the militants had overrun soldiers.
Abubakar has long harboured ambitions for Nigeria’s top job but fell out of favour with Obasanjo towards the end of their tenure and defected to an opposition party to contest the 2007 election.
He later rejoined the PDP fold but lost out to Jonathan for the 2011 presidential ticket and again defected last year, joining the APC.
Abubakar claimed he had been proved right about Jonathan, with few visible improvements in tackling corruption, poor governance and accountability in addition to the worsening security situation.
“I told Nigerians that he (Jonathan) did not have the capacity, he didn’t have the experience. He didn’t have anything and yet they gave him the chance, the opportunity,” he added.
“And they can now see the chance and the opportunity they gave him. Of course I’m more experienced than he is. I believe my capacity cannot be compare with his, in all respect.”
Jonathan is widely expected to stand for a second, four-year term and this week PDP state governors and the party’s national executive committee endorsed him as their only candidate.'
Abubakar is likely to come up against a number of formidable opponents for the APC ticket.
This Atiku mus be creazy
ReplyDeleteThis Atiku mus be creazy
ReplyDeleteHw do u kn are u part of them some days back u said if it ws not ur age u shd hv gone to fight boko haram to is jona dose not have what to take u better fine something to do
ReplyDeleteok atiku. stop playing politics with boko haram. so you are happy jonathan can't fight group who are destroying your region. must you be president before boko are defeated? give them more support then to remain undefeated for jonathan to be blamed while your region go backward.
ReplyDeleteAtiku will not need to fight BH, he will simply tell them " boys cool down jona is gone and we have the power now" and they will obey bc he is sub commander.
ReplyDeleteGOD of boko haram, you're praising boko haram nou....that our president can't stop them and nah you can stop them....because you no them...anumanu
ReplyDeleteAtiikuuuu hmmmmm, remember u and OBJ split off before d end of ur eight year as VP. Now u av d experience? Where were u during handing over to Late President Yar'Adua
ReplyDeleteIf you have being to the North,you will know Boko haram, this are children roaming about the streets for years without relative , dependant or future who have grown to terrorise the country that turned a blind eye on them. Most of the northerners past through the system. Till now we still have Boko haram in the making.Just visit the north, and now spreading to other region fuel by poverty, unemployment and depression.
ReplyDeleteAtiku u hav come again u will not let the sleeping dog lie. Nigerians know u as quick tempered person , highly racist and extremist against the South who cannot lead Nigerians. Why don't u go and find something else and do. Presidency quality is not in u. Good luck is 100% better than Atiku Abubakar , so let him be.GEJ carry go for one Naija.
ReplyDeleteStupid BH member
ReplyDeleteAtiku should get something straight, as long as OBJ is alive Atiku can never be president of this country. Let him keep trying and wasting his time. In any event what values would he bring to the table except corruption
ReplyDeleteAtiku is not crazy. Though he is not the best candidate but better than Ebola Jona. If any northerner comes on board today, the snipers and its allies from Isreal will disappear or crushed that is what Atiku is saying.
ReplyDeleteHow do you expect him to quench them when you said that there will be crisis if a Southerner is elected. Only a fool will vote for any BH member as president because we don't know your hidden agendas
ReplyDeleteTruth is bitter!!!
ReplyDeleteAtiku is fighting a lost battle and l think his problem is fear of failing woefully come 2015, he knows he can't compete with uncle GEJ. Jealosy. Finally u(atiku) said that gej hasn't what it takes to fight bh, listen and listen gud, u know obasanjo is still alive nd there's no way u will be vp again let alone president of this con3. Keep sponsoring bh one day ur sins will expose u.
ReplyDeleteHow many times will Atiku change parties? That speaks volumes about his intergrity. He should forget his bid for presidency till Jesus comes back!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish a leader like Jerry Rawling of Ghana can take over one day and kill all these people like this man and OBJ who don't want to leave Nigeria alone after all the money they have looted. They only cause confusion every day
ReplyDeleteAtiku never progressed this nation when he ruled and is worse than GJ and his people are feeding us with oil while your people feed us bloodshed, rape, bitterness, illiteracy , poverty, hate and born to rule arrogance. The choice is clear.
ReplyDeleteAtiku,you will fail as many times as to try to be the President of this country.
ReplyDelete