4 reasons Nigeria is not making progress - Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed some of the reasons Nigeria is not making as much progress as it should be. The reasons are in a paper presented by him, titled; “The Challenge of Unity, Diversity and National Development: Nigeria at Crossroads.”

Below are some of his reasons:

1. Tribalism

He said: “If people get disillusioned, and in frustration, they embrace and imbibe all sorts of views, beliefs and ideas including ones that suggest that people from the other ethnic, religious or regional group is responsible for their woes

“Today, the three northern zones are the most backward. Instead of us to blame ourselves, we are blaming the south."

2. Lack of Infrastructure

Speaking on the importance of rebuilding, he said: “The (former) Senate President was saying we fought civil war about 50 years. When you fly today from the north to the east, they have rebuilt their own east. We have not even rebuilt a hut in the north.

“We are still living in such huts but they have rebuilt the east and then we blame them for rebuilding their own homes."

3. Disunity

Atiku Abubakar also spoke on disunity and how it affected Nigeria's progress, saying: "But the most germane question is: must we really continue to live together as one country amidst such pervasive climate of disunity, which is impeding our development?

"My prompt answer to this is yes, we should remain together, because it is the best option, and because we will be stronger, greater, and better in one piece than in pieces."

4. Lack of proper education

Speaking on the importance of education, he said: "On March 3, I read a piece of news which has given me great joy, in the midst of all the bad news coming out of Northern Nigeria.

"The governors of Northern Nigeria have decided to abolish school fees in secondary schools across the region. I remember back in the year 2000, while serving as Vice President, I convened the Northern Education Summit, at which far reaching recommendations were made.

"As the highest ranking elected leader form the northern states, I saw it as my responsibility to preach the message of improved access to education, especially in my immediate region, where I knew a major educational gap existed.

"I also believed that improving access to education was key to the revival of the economy of the region."

when he said: "Now that these states have taken the big step forward in providing free secondary education, there is equally a need for expansion of facilities to cope with the growing number of pupils wishing to enter secondary schools.

"The states also have to actively recruit students by making a dedicated push for adoption in the local communities.

"State governments need to partner with local district heads, women (mothers and women leaders), market leaders, religious leaders and influential members of communities, to encourage more young people to attend school.

"If parents need to receive incentives to release their children to go to school, and this is the only option on the table, I believe no price is too high. I believe however, that sensitisation would work better than cash incentives."