Obasanjo's letter to Jonathan: Atiku wants, IBB, Ekwueme, Danjuma, others to intervene

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wants former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, ex- Vice President Alex Ekwueme and other . elders and eminent personalities consulted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo before his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene and reduce the tension created by former President Obasanjo's weighty allegations.

Abubakar said that although he was not competent to speak on the matter since he was not privy to the communication, it was expedient for leaders consulted by the former President before the publication of the letter to take practical steps to address issues raised.

The former vice president said he was concerned by the weight of the issues raised by Obasanjo, adding that the elders mentioned by Obasanjo had a moral duty to add their voices to the issue. Atiku spoke in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Thursday. According to Atiku, the allegations were too disturbing to be treated with apathy by any political stakeholder like him.

He said at a moment of national anxiety or uncertainty, leaders across the country should rise to the occasion and reassure fellow Nigerians about the future, pointing out that at a time the rest of the world was looking at Nigeria as a beacon of hope for stability, the content of Obasanjo's letter should be urgently addressed by former leaders and elders. Former Vice President Abubakar said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians. 'Our priorities for Nigeria are forging lasting solutions to our chronic unemployment, providing safety and security for all, and vastly improving our failing education systems. President Jonathan's government has consistently failed to address these critical concerns,' Atiku said. 'That said, it is on record that I have firmly fought for a democracy where the voters choose their future leaders, not political party bosses. If the incumbent President insists on continuing to destroy his own party with vindictive internal wars and thinks his record of rising youth unemployment, never-ending violence, corruption and scandals is worthy of another term, then he is welcome to run. We are confident Nigerians will exercise their democratic right to choose new leadership in 2015,' he said. He explained that at a time the rest of the world was looking at Nigeria as a beacon of hope for stability, the content of Obasanjo's letter should be urgently addressed by former leaders and elders.

According to Atiku Abubakar, with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians, adding, “Our priorities for Nigeria are forging lasting solutions to our chronic unemployment, providing safety and security for all, and vastly improving our failing education systems. President Jonathan’s government has consistently failed to address these critical concerns.

“That said, it is on record that I have firmly fought for a democracy where the voters choose their future leaders, not political party bosses. If the incumbent President insists on continuing to destroy his own party with vindictive internal wars and thinks his record of rising youth unemployment, never-ending violence, corruption and scandals is worthy of another term, then he is welcome to run. We are confident Nigerians will exercise their democratic right to choose new leadership in 2015.”

Former Vice President Abubakar said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians, adding that the President was free to run his government without interference, but said sometimes even sitting Presidents needed outside constructive interventions to move the country forward.