Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, looks directly into the camera. He wears a cream-coloured traditional outfit with faint black stripes and a matching cap embroidered with black thread. Seated in the middle, he is flanked by the Nigerian flag on one side and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flag on the other. Wearing glasses, his expression is solemn.
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has assured citizens that he will bring the country’s insecurity and insurgency under control within one year if elected into office.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gave this assurance during an exclusive interview with the BBC.
Since the official launch of the presidential campaign window, Atiku has granted several interviews detailing his blueprint for Nigeria should he win the election.
Atiku, who has run for the presidency multiple times without success, stated that Nigeria needs to invest heavily in its police force and the armed forces. He also outlined how he intends to address one of the most pressing challenges facing Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
According to the veteran politician, Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people, yet the number of police officers remains severely insufficient.
“We are over 200 million people, and yet we have fewer than 200,000 police officers,” Atiku said.
The businessman, who hails from northern Nigeria, promised that citizens would begin to see positive changes in national security shortly after he assumes office.
“And believe me, within one year, we can control this widespread insurgency and insecurity.”
He explained that the escalation of insecurity is partly due to poor diplomatic relations between West African nations, which has allowed bandits to cross easily into Nigeria from neighbouring countries.
The 2027 Opposition Alliance and His Repeated Bids
Regarding whether the opposition coalition will unite for the 2027 presidential election, Atiku revealed that discussions are still ongoing.
“We are still talking to each other; it is a matter of strategy. Don’t worry, we will come together,” he said.
On why he continues to run for the presidency despite past defeats, Atiku maintained that contesting is his constitutional right. However, he added that if he loses this upcoming election, he will not run again.
Atiku emphasized that he remains strong, agile, and healthy enough to lead the country. He also alleged that he is younger than the current president, claiming he would prove in court that President Bola Tinubu is actually 90 years old.
On the Economy and Fuel Subsidy
Atiku stated that he has consulted with economists and experts who agree that the federal government’s removal of the fuel subsidy, and the savings generated from it, have not benefited ordinary Nigerians. Instead, he argued, it has plunged more citizens into poverty.
“The government claims to have made a lot of money. Okay, if you have made that money, have you invested it in the welfare of the people, their well-being, or their security?” he asked.
“You have not. Our security has worsened, unemployment has worsened, and our debt profile has worsened. We are one of the poorest countries in the world today, despite all the resources we have. So, this is also an issue of economic mismanagement,” he concluded.
Credit to BBC
