If not for my age, I would have gone to the war front to fight Boko Haram – Atiku

A former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar has blamed the current government under the leadership of President Goodluck 

Jonathan over his failure to solve the problem of insecurity in Nigeria since he assumed office few 
years back.Atiku lamented that if not for his old age, he would have gone to the war-front to battle 
the outlawed sect, Boko Haram that has been terrorizing the country for years.


He recalled how the Obasanjo administration (where he served as the Vice President) crushed 

such a terror group within six weeks and wondered why the menace remains unresolved after 

four or five years.Atiku made this disclosure while addressing newsmen in his Abuja residence
on 
the State of the Nation and his plans to formally declare for presidential race.Accordng to him, “I 

am absolutely upset and angry with this insecurity situation. I don’t believe that as a country, we 

have done enough to secure this country. This bunch of insurgence has been operating for nearly 

four or five years now. Knowing Nigeria, we pride ourselves as having the beys armed forces in 

this continent. I really don’t know where thing went wrong. Is it the armed forces or the political 

leaders? I just can’t believe what is happening. I am not in a position to explain it because I am not 
in government. But I don’t believe that this is a situation that Nigeria would not have dealt a very 

fatal blow within three to six months.

“I remember that when we were in office, such a group wanted to emerge in Yobe state and we 

smashed that group completely within a couple of weeks. That such a group should be allowed to 

operate for four or five years in this country and even saying they have occupied part of the 

country, hosting flag and nobody is doing anything is unbelievable. Please help me ask them what 

is wrong because I am very upset and angry about this development. When I went to visit the son 

of Former President, Obasanjo, I said I wish I were a young man, I would have gone to the war 

front to fight. It is unbelievable what is happening,” he lamented.