Nigeria at its Worst Since 1999, Says Atiku

• Nigeria at its Worst Since 1999, Says Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, said there was the need for a leadership change in 2019 to move the nation forward.

According to Atiku, Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a change of leadership to be saved from insecurity, poverty and economic woes confronting it under the All Progressives Congress-led government.

He stated this during a courtesy visit to a former governor of the Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, in Kaduna.

Atiku, who is also a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he felt it was necessary to visit the former governor with his campaign train ahead of the September national convention of the party.

He commended Makarfi, who is also a PDP presidential aspirant, for steering the party through a turbulent period when he held sway as the chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee.

The former vice-president said, “We are at a crossroads. You can definitely acknowledge that since the return of democracy, we have not had a worse period than now, whether in terms of economy, unity or security.

“So, I believe that if we work together, we will return this country to the path of peace, progress and development.”

According to Atiku, the maladministration of the APC government is very evident.

He said, “We have the highest record of unemployment since 1999. We have the highest inflation. We have multiple exchange rates that discourage foreign investment. We have the highest level of insecurity since 1999.

“We are disunited this time more than ever before. People are angrier. People are poorer than any (other) time; I mean, Nigeria is the headquarters of poverty in the world.

“This is unthinkable, for a country that is endowed with human and natural resources like ours, just because of lack of clear-headed leadership and direction. This is where we find ourselves. It is obvious that we just have to change the leadership of this country.”

While responding, Makarfi said he had nothing to lose if Atiku picked the party’s presidential ticket.

Makarfi said, “I am ready to work with any of the fellow aspirants that emerges. That is why I even said, because I am willing to work with some of them (aspirants), I won’t even step into their states.

“I am not averse to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar becoming the party’s candidate just like he is also not averse to me becoming the party’s candidate. It is a family issue. We are talking and we will keep on talking.”