REVOLUTION IMMINENT IN NIGERIA — BUKAR ABBA IBRAHIM

The chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim has again warned that there could be revolution in the country unless the level of poverty is addressed to give the citizens a sense of belonging.

The former governor of Yobe state who stated this during an interactive session with newsmen at the National Assembly yesterday, also described President Goodluck Jonathan as lacking in required political will to address the challenges facing the country.

He also reiterated his stand that dialogue with the dreaded Boko Haram sect remains the best option to end the insurgency by the group.

Cautioning that there could be revolution in the country, Ibrahim said such can happen as a spontaneous reaction to unpleasant conditions adding that the poverty rate in the country has the capability of triggering such reactions from the people.

“Let me start with the issue of the revolution. You see, nobody wishes revolution to happen, they just happen. Revolutions are spontaneous reactions to certain situations; situation can get to a certain stage and people cannot bear it any more, everything erupts and then the revolution comes. 

“So nobody can see it coming but the elements are there, when the country is so blessed with so much resources like we are in Nigeria and yet everybody complains of being poor and suffering. The poverty level is on the increase rather than decrease. These are situations that can push the poor to the level they cannot withstand again and then everything erupts. That is how it happens but nobody wishes it happens here but when it happens, it happens”, he said.

The lawmaker said the only way to avert such is to evolve policies that would reverse the poverty rate and ensure better living standard for the people.

“The only thing we need to do is to be conscious of our ways. We need to take care of the poor and the poorer of the poorest. The resources are there, but we don’t just have the kind of leadership that will galvanize these resources for everybody to benefit. That is all I can say on revolution”, he said.

“Jonathan apparently seems to lack strong political will, but I hope he will have the power to introduce free education from primary level to secondary. If he does that and leave in 2015, Nigerians will be happy with him” the lawmaker said.

Replying Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who criticised him for calling for dialogue and blaming the Boko Haram insurgency on poverty, Ibrahim said he has no apologies for his position.

Source: People’s Daily