Why Nigeria needs to be re-structured

Why Nigeria needs to be re-structured
Post Date September 1, 2018
Comments 30 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Nigeria, Politics, The Economy, Uncategorized

In a recent interaction in the United States, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo asserted that the “problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring…and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographic re-structuring”.

It is a surprise that the Vice President would take such a position and, in particular, fail to appreciate the connection between Nigeria’s defective structure and its underperformance.

It is unhelpful to reduce the construct of “Restructuring” to a geographical …

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How jobs, stronger economy can unite Nigerians, stem sectarian strife

How jobs, stronger economy can unite Nigerians, stem sectarian strife
Post Date March 12, 2018
Comments 23 Comments
Author
Category Agriculture, Business, Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Security

Over the last few months, our nation has had to reopen a fresh chapter in the conversation on internal security, peace and unity in the wake of renewed violence in the North Central and North East of our country. These sad episodes have not only led to questions by young Nigerians (and Nigerians as a whole) around the effectiveness of our security structure, but also questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s unity.

Unity is not something we just have because we are Nigerians, or because someone …

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For the love of Nigeria

For the love of Nigeria
Post Date January 14, 2018
Comments 42 Comments
Author
Category History, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics

Once again, it is that time of year set aside for us Nigerians to honour members of our country’s Armed Forces who fought in the first and second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and those who served or are still serving in different theatres of war, notably the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria.

While many of us took time off from work and other preoccupations to be with our families over the Christmas and New Year holidays, many Nigerian soldiers and members of other …

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Dear I Go Dye, You Are Right, But We Can Fix Nigeria Together

Dear I Go Dye, You Are Right, But We Can Fix Nigeria Together
Post Date December 7, 2017
Comments 115 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, The Economy

Dear I Go Dye,

I read your post on Instagram. It was hard to miss it because it was on every major news website. I would like to say that you were mostly right. The questions you raised in your post are similar to the ones I have been asked by other young people on social media, so I am replying this not just to you as a person, but to all young Nigerians who have asked similar questions.

Firstly, you are right. The Nigerian youth have often …

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Restructuring for A United and Progressive Nigeria

Restructuring for A United and Progressive Nigeria
Post Date July 19, 2017
Comments 49 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Speeches, The Issues

This is the transcript of my speech at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on the occasion of the Senior Staff Club Lecture Series on Restructuring Nigeria/Award of Excellence in Good Governance on me and my Investiture as Life Member of the Senior Staff Club, University of Nigeria,  Nsukka.
Wednesday 19th July, 2017.

 

Protocol:

 

Let me begin with a rhetorical question: why do I, Atiku Abubakar, favour a restructured Nigeria?

The answer is simple: because I am proudly Nigerian and favour a united Nigeria that offers every man, …

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None of us is as great as all of us

None of us is as great as all of us
Post Date June 20, 2017
Comments 47 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Scholarships

The number one problem plaguing Nigeria is not corruption or even the absence of regular power. The number one problem militating against the progress of Nigeria is her lack of unity.

If we can fix this problem, Nigeria will herself be fixed.

In The Old Testament of The Bible, which Christians accept as the Divine scripture, God spoke about mankind in Genesis 11:6 thus: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible …

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Good Governance and Development: Notes on Nigeria

Post Date May 5, 2017
Comments 61 Comments
Author
Category History, Leadership, Nigeria, Politics, The Economy

Being speech by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the 2nd Annual Convention of the Abia State Medical Association Alumni Association, UK, held at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Dartford, London. 30 April, 2017.

Protocol:

If you are like me you would have sat around fellow Nigerians as they discuss the many challenges facing the country and the many ways they think those challenges can be met. And you likely participated in some of those discussions. After listening and analyzing the litany of …

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I’m a proud product of Nigeria’s public school

I’m a proud product of Nigeria’s public school
Post Date November 23, 2016
Comments 16 Comments
Author
Category Charity, Education, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Press

On Wednesday, 16 November I was at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as chairman of the annual Zik Lecture Series, where I delivered remarks titled “Crisis, Education and Africa’s Recovery”. The speech, as with many I have made in recent times, has been focused on the roles of government and private sector in providing world class education in Nigeria.

Here is a small part of that speech:

“I could not have gone to school if my parents were required to pay for it. That and the importance of …

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Beyond Terrorism: Education and Sustainable Development

Beyond Terrorism: Education and Sustainable Development
Post Date November 14, 2015
Comments 31 Comments
Author
Category Agriculture, Business, Education, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Personal Thoughts, Politics, Security, Speeches, The Economy, The Issues

Remarks By Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Founder, American University of Nigeria, Yola, at the 10th Founder’s Day Celebration of the University, at Yola

14 November, 2015

Protocol

In a way it is difficult to believe that this is the 10thFounder’s Day of this dream we call AUN, the American University of Nigeria, Yola. The years have passed rather quickly. But they have been very memorable, challenging and rewarding years. That we have turned this wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, so …

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Congratulations, General Muhammadu Buhari as #NigeriaDecides

Congratulations, General Muhammadu Buhari as #NigeriaDecides
Post Date March 31, 2015
Comments 23 Comments
Author
Category Democracy, History, Leadership, Nigeria, Politics

Congratulatory message by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the election of president-elect, His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari.

My hearty congratulations to His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, for being elected the next president of our beloved county, Nigeria. You have led our party, the All Progressives Congress to an unprecedented victory within two years of it’s official formation, and in so doing, written the most important chapter of our democracy.

The great Nnamdi Azikiwe once wrote that “history will continue to vindicate the …

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