Buhari Implementing Wrong Development Strategies – Atiku

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s development ideas in the country are incorrect.

According to Atiku, new development policies have resulted in 13 million out-of-school children and millions of unemployed youths.

Atiku stated during a convocation lecture titled “Diversity, Education, and Autonomy” at Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State, that weak development policies had also resulted in a level of instability, leading in the country’s splintering into tiny chunks controlled by armed warlords.

While advocating for the sovereignty of the constituent parts, the former Vice President emphasized the importance of tailoring the country’s development policies and practices to recognize and capitalize on its variety.

Atiku, who criticized the federal government’s excessive centralization of authority and concentration of resources, said the structure has continued to help the country overcome its issues.

“Rather we have had excessive corruption, mediocrity, generations of citizens who hope to become rich without work, emasculation of state and local initiatives and a lack of creative and healthy competition among states as they all look towards Abuja for handouts every month.

“We must reverse the concentration of power and resources at the centre. And we must make serious and conscious efforts to identify the potentials and strengths of each state and section of this country and work to maximize its contribution to the development of our country as it is supported to develop itself. That is how you allow greater autonomy while pulling together. Greater autonomy for states will allow ideas to germinate from anywhere and blossom.”

Speaking during the lecture, Atiku, who stated that basic education must be free and compulsory, said parents should be forced to send their children to school just as they are forced to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases.