The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has admitted that he does not understand the phenomenon of Boko Haram, lamenting that despite the efforts of the highly rated Nigerian army, these terrorists have not been eradicated. .
Atiku made this known on Sunday night while answering questions during the People’s Town Hall series organized by Channels Television and its partners and monitored by Nairametrics.
Atiku, who appeared alongside his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the incumbent Governor of Delta State, said he could not find anywhere in Borno where anyone could hide and be invisible.
Atiku to understand the challenge if he becomes president
- Responding to questions about insecurity and his position on Boko Haram, Atiku said, “I still don’t understand why we have Boko Haram. You see, I served in Borno State when it was in the North-East, and as a Customs officer and I patrolled the entire North-East, so I am very knowledgeable about the plants and the border areas. I still haven’t found a place in Borno areas where someone can hide and not be seen. I don’t understand honestly, the phenomenon of Boko Haram.
- “Sometimes when I come back from Europe, 30 feet above, I see people walking in Borno State, so where is the place to hide? Until they say there is a place called Sambisa forest. I was there. I didn’t see any forest. It’s just trees here and there.
- “That is why we deployed the Nigerian military which used to be one of the best in the world. They have fought, you know, quite a few in the international arena and they have excelled and here we are deploying them with their strength and all and we can’t eradicate Boko Haram. So I’m confused. So maybe when I get there, I will understand, but actually, I don’t understand the phenomenon of Boko Haram.
- “Everything is there. There’s politics, there’s business, security, everything. Of course, the solution is leadership, strong leadership to deal with all interest groups within the military and outside the military.
May adopt UAE system to resolve uncertainty
Atiku also said at the event that he could use the security system used by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to solve Nigeria’s security challenges if elected President in 2023.
The former vice president noted that the UAE system is mainly based on the adoption of technology to monitor the movement of everyone and what is happening throughout the country, adding that the adoption of the method will discourage people from committing crimes .
- He said, “The security architecture that I admire is the UAE security architecture and it is primarily based on monitoring. You don’t see uniformed policemen in the UAE, you don’t see soldiers but almost everyone is watched every day and especially if you are a visitor, from when you enter the country or when you leave, wherever you are. you are being monitored and that is the deployment of technology as far as security is concerned.
- “In other words we are aiming for the end, but we have to deal with our current security structure. How do we change it to ensure that we provide our people with a safer environment to do their own legitimate businesses wherever they are, in rural areas, semi-urban and others.”
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The former Vice President said that his plan is the urgent need that any government should do now because there is a security challenge in every geopolitical zone and every geopolitical zone is different.