Atiku slams Nigerian leaders in New Year message, says they’re lazy, uninspiring

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has slammed Nigerian leaders, especially at the federal level, labelling them as lazy and uninspiring.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, said this in his new year message to Nigerians, insisting that aside the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year, Nigeria suffered as a result of lazy and uninspiring leadership especially from the government at the centre.

While acknowledging other threats in the country asides the virus, Atiku advised Nigerians to put their differences aside, noting that “we are exposed to a common threat of terrorism, kidnapping and sundry criminalities; the threat of economic meltdown, unemployment and poverty.”

Atiku also called for the same kind of cooperation displayed in the fight against COVID-19 to be used in finding lasting solutions to other problems facing the world.

The statement reads: “It is with a glad heart that I welcome everyone to the New Year, 2021.

“The out-gone year was quite dramatic and it is only by the grace of the Almighty God that we survived to witness the succeeding year.

“It is cheering that we are entering the New Year with refreshing news of a handful of certified vaccines against the dreaded COVID-19 virus. And better still is news of commencement of vaccination in some parts of the world.

“I am expectant that the vaccine(s) would soon be available for vaccination in Nigeria. It is also hoped that very soon life would return to normal.

Read also: FOR THE RECORD…Full text of President Buhari’s New Year 2021 message to Nigerians

“As a country, we have taken our share of the blow that COVID-19 dealt to the globe. And worst still, we suffered a multi-facet downcast on account of lazy and uninspiring leadership from the government at the centre – most especially.

“But just as I often do, I pray that God should heal the hearts of families who have lost loved ones to the disease, as well as those who died on account of insecurity and ringing poverty occasioned by poor management of our national economy.

“The damage that the pandemic had done to our lives remains, and it would take some time for us to overcome. However, bad as the virus was, the fundamental lesson that the scourge reinforces is our bond as one species of homo sapiens, in which an attack on one is an attack on all.

“Moving forward, we would require the same kind of cooperation that it takes to develop an antidote to COVID-19, to come up with solutions to many of the other ills that confront our world.

“Perhaps, that is the lesson to be taken from the pandemic, and it should be our pathway into the New Year.

“Just like it was with the deadly virus, we are exposed to a common threat of terrorism, kidnapping and sundry criminalities; the threat of economic meltdown, unemployment and poverty; and, even our solution to the problem of climate change must be within the focus of conserving the planet we call home. We cannot wholly defeat any of these threats if we refuse to cooperate and work together irrespective of our intangible differences.

“As Nigerians, we are all aware of the challenges that bedevil the country. We need not begin to enumerate them. But what we must not let happen is allowing our weakness to wall our strength.

“Our diversity offers a rare opportunity of plural perspectives to finding a solution to our problems. If we fail to take that advantage, we would be weaker while the problems keep growing bigger and the blame will be on us.

“As we embrace this New Year with brighter hopes of restoration, let us do so with even a stronger commitment to unity, cooperation and mutual love. Let us work as one people, under one God with one country to call home.

“I wish every Nigerian a prosperous Year 2021 and I do pray that every family shall find renewal in the New Year.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now