Former Nigeria Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the country’s leaders consulted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo before the publication of his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan which was published on Wednesday to intervene and reduce the tension created by the weighty allegations contained in it.
In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President said although he was not competent to speak on the letter because he was not privy to the communication, he was nervous about the allegations like every other Nigerian and that those elders mentioned by Obasanjo had a moral duty to add their voices to the issue.
According to Atiku, the allegations were too disturbing to be treated with apathy by any political stakeholder like him. He said at a moment of national anxiety or uncertainty, leaders across the country should rise to the occasion and reassure fellow Nigerians about the future.
He explained that at a time the rest of the world was looking at Nigeria as a beacon of hope for stability, the content of Obasanjo’s letter should be urgently addressed by former leaders and elders.
Former Vice President Abubakar said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians.
"Our priorities for Nigeria are forging lasting solutions to our chronic unemployment, providing safety and security for all, and vastly improving our failing education systems. President Jonathan's government has consistently failed to address these critical concerns," Atiku said.
"That said, it is on record that I have firmly fought for a democracy where the voters choose their future leaders, not political party bosses. If the incumbent President insists on continuing to destroy his own party with vindictive internal wars and thinks his record of rising youth unemployment, never-ending violence, corruption and scandals is worthy of another term, then he is welcome to run. We are confident Nigerians will exercise their democratic right to choose new leadership in 2015," he said.
The former Vice President said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure the people.
Atiku explained that the President was free to run his government without interference, but said sometimes even sitting Presidents needed outside constructive interventions to move the country forward.
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