By Muazu Abari
Yola
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that the failure to reward and value education had contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram and all other forms of criminality being experienced on the parts of the youth in the country and advocated free education at all levels.
Atiku stated this at the weekend in Yola in his keynote address entitled: “Beyond Terrorism: Education and Development” to mark the 10th founding fathers day of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.
He called for the disarmament of the youth and the need to engage them in productive ventures that would enable them to live a decent life.
He said: “Let me be clear nothing justifies the mindless violence and destructions by those who wrongly believed that God wanted us to close our hearts and minds to wind back the clock and to live in fear and misery; but our failure to value and reward education explain why some of our youth think they have nothing to lose. Thus they sometimes think violence and other forms of criminality a best option. We can urge them to drop their guns and pick up tools for other kinds of productive trades, but they are more likely to listen if we teach them how to use those tools and if they can make a living using those tools in these trades.”
He further explained that the 2011 general elections which led to the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari had restored confidence and hope in the nation’s democracy.
“The national elections, earlier this year, created uncertainty, but they have also restored hope for our democracy and the values we stand for as a country. The change in government has raised high hope and false fear, but it has also given all of us an opportunity to play our part in the collective efforts needed to rebuild our nation.”
He also commended the military and other security agencies for their efforts, as well as the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration against the ongoing war against insurgency and expressed optimism that the challenge “will soon be overcome.”
According to him, the efforts of the present administration against corruption should be applauded and supported by all Nigerians.