Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, proffered solution to the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta, counselling that the issue must be handled with care. He also urged Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari a “pass mark” for his efforts in the first year of his administration.
He made the call in Abuja, at the launch of a book entitled: “We Are All Biafrans,’’ written by Chido Onumah. According to Atiku, who was chairman on the occasion, unless the Niger Delta issue was resolved, Nigeria might not get electricity soon.
“I think the Niger Delta should be handled with a ‘stick and carrot’ approach. In 2007, before I ran for president seat, I met with various stakeholders on the Niger Delta issue and they came up with a policy. Part of the recommendations was that the ministry be moved to the Niger Delta and not Abuja. We have had administrations that did not do their homework on the Niger Delta.
“If I had won, I would have sold 10 per cent shares in the NNPC; that will give me 20 billion dollars which would build infrastructure for the Niger Delta, but we will always end up with accidental leadership. Bring peace and development to the Niger Delta then they will stop blowing up pipelines. Then, we will get gas and then power can be stable, but until then, we will not get it,” he said.
Credit: Tribune