By Samuel Aruwan
Kaduna
Former Vice President and a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday disclosed that he had signed a pact with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on how to save Nigeria.
Atiku told the BBC Hausa Section that a closed door meeting he had with the former president held at Otta Farm, Ogun state, was fruitful and in the best interest of Nigeria.
He further argued that he offered advice to President Goodluck Jonathan in the past on the need to come up with plans that would lead to successful enlistment of volunteers like ‘Civilian JTF’ into Nigerian military which was not given consideration.
The former vice president, who first spoke on presidential primaries of the APC, said: “There is no problem that will arise after our primaries because we are one and will work for whoever that emerged.”
On his meeting with Obasanjo, Atiku said: “We discussed challenges our country is facing, and we reached a pact that we will work together and ensure that our country is out of the mess we are in presently.”
He said despite Boko Haram’s holding of some territories in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states elections could still go on, stressing: “Yes, I agree that there are territories in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno that are under these terrorists, but this cannot stop elections.
“We have seen many countries with similar situation but they still went ahead and had successful elections in peace and calm.”
Atiku disagreed with the generalisation that politicians were wholesomely not bothered about insurgency but were jostling for political power.
“It is not true that we don’t bother. All the places we went, you will see us expressing concern and coming up with solution and giving support to the country.
“It is not true that we care less. I have once advised that the volunteers should be properly enlisted into the military because it will help. They know the terrain and, looking at the situation at hand, security shouldn’t be left for government alone; we should equally play our role and support them.”