By Umar Yusuf

Yola—Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, took a swipe at past administrations in the handling of Boko Haram insurgency, saying the sect would not have reared its head, if he was President.

Atiku spoke Tuesday night at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola, while distributing relief materials to over 5,000 internally-displaced persons, IDPs.

He said: “If I were the President of Nigeria when Boko Haram insurgency erupted, I would have used all means at my disposal to avert it.

“When we were in government in 2002, a similar incident, which should have been more deadly, erupted in Yobe State and we immediately contained it and nothing was heard of it again.

“Such an ugly incident requires a steadfast leadership that is decisive in its deeds in dealing with it. For Boko Haram insurgents to have overran seven of the 21 local governments of Adamawa State beats my imagination, and the efforts I put in place that prevented Boko Haram from capturing the entire state is left between me and my Creator.

“As I clock 70 years this year, all my activities will be dedicated to the cause of internally-displaced persons, IDPs, not only in Adamawa, but also in Borno, Yobe and other IDPs camps spread across the country.”

The former Vice President implored all his admirers, who wished to identify with him as he clocks 70 to channel them to the IDPs.

Earlier, Atiku and members of the Adamawa Peace Initiative, visited St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral and the Jama’atul Nasir Islam, JNI, where they distributed relief materials to IDPs.