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                 Nigeria Ex-VP Unhappy With Security Situation

   by Peter Clottey

   Nigeria's former vice president Atiku Abubakar says the current
   security situation in the country is "appalling." He also accused the
   government in Abuja of lacking the political will to address the
   violence carried out by Islamist militant group, Boko Haram.

   Abubakar said there is need to restore law and order and protect
   unarmed civilians who he says have often been victims of terror attacks
   carried out by the Islamist militants.

   He said the growing insecurity has undermined the country's economy and
   has negatively impacted Nigeria's reputation in the international
   community.

   "The security situation in the country, I must admit is appalling. I
   have never seen it this bad - not even during the civil war did we have
   this sense of insecurity all over the country," said Abubakar.

   He outlined steps that he said could be implemented immediately to
   resolve the security threats the country faces.

   "What we need to have in place is a political leadership that has the
   will, the courage and the determination to restore law and order.
   Restoring law and order is a multifaceted approach; both social,
   economic as well as security," said Abubakar. "You must have a
   political leadership that has vision, the will and the courage to
   pursue those multifaceted approach."

   ''Government officials rejected Abubakar's criticism as politically
   motivated, citing the former vice president's association with the main
   opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

   They said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's administration has
   demonstrated commitment to addressing the insecurity challenges in
   spite of the terrorism the country faces, which they said is a global
   phenomenon that requires international cooperation to combat it.

   Some supporters of the ruling PDP say activities of the Boko Haram
   appear to be politically motivated aimed at embarrassing the government
   and make it unpopular ahead of the elections. But Abubakar disagreed.

   "It's not supported by any empirical evidence. I think we should stop
   passing the buck at each other," he said. "As long as this security
   situation is concerned we should work as a team, the whole country.
   Whether opposition whether ruling party, we should work as a team to
   make sure that we restore peace, unity and
   stability."

   Analysts say the APC is expected to pose a significant challenge to the
   dominance of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in next year's
   vote.

   Abubakar says the APC has a real chance to defeat the PDP in the
   presidential vote next year.

   "I have never seen a climate that gives the opposition so much hope
   than today. Because since the return of democracy, Nigeria has been
   governed by only one ruling political party, and Nigerians really want
   to see a change," said Abubakar. "I toured the country and this sense
   of change is pervasive. So if the APC can put its house in order,
   Nigerians will give that party the opportunity."

   It's been reported that Abubakar, who is the chairman of the Peace and
   Reconciliation Committee of the opposition group, harbors presidential
   ambitions to lead the APC in elections next year.  But Abubakar
   dismissed those reports.

   "All I was trying to do is to make sure that we provided Nigerians an
   alternative opposition. This is because I am a firm believer in a
   two-party system. A two-party system will provide Nigerians with
   alternatives from time to time," he said. "A single major or powerful
   political party will result into a one party system and will ultimately
   land us into the hands of a dictator. And God-forbid I don't wish to
   live and see a dictator in Nigeria."

   Abubakar admits helping to build a formidable party to challenge the
   PDP in next year's vote but declined to say whether he will be the
   presidential candidate for the APC.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-ex-vp-unhappy-with-security-s
   ituation/1968275.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-ex-vp-unhappy-with-security-situation/1968275.html