A former Vice President and rumoured 2023 Presidential Hopeful, Atiku Abubakar, has called for an end to some bad practices in Nigeria, since the era of democracy in 1999, which have not led to much growth and development of the country,
He stated that the development strategies which should be redesigned, have produced 13 million out-of-school children, as well as millions of unemployed youths.
Atiku spoke while delivering his Convocation Lecture titled: “Diversity, Education and Autonomy”, at the Achievers University, in Owo, Ondo State.
He maintained that the poor development strategies have also led to a level of insecurity, resulting to the splinter of the country into tiny bits controlled by armed warlords.
While calling for the autonomy of the constituent parts, the former Vice President emphasised the need for the country to tailor its development policies and practices to acknowledge its diversity, in order to benefit from it.
Atiku frowned at what he described as the excessive centralisation of power and concentration of resources in the Federal Government, saying that the structure has continued to aid the challenges facing the country.
He added: “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.”
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