According to him, though there has been a significant improvement in the security situation in that region, the insurgency remains, as insurgents still occupy a specific geographical space and still retain the capacity for occasional deadly attacks.
He said this, while speaking at the Founder’s Day of the Abti-America University of Nigeria, and noted that many citizens in the zone still remain vulnerable and live in fear.
He said: “And we cannot say the problem is over, until every displaced person is able to return home, to the office, to the market, to the farm, and resume normal activities.
“We cannot say it is over until we rebuild the schools, churches, hospitals, markets and homes that had been destroyed. We cannot say it’s over until the survivors of this insurgency receive the help they need, including psychological therapy to deal with the trauma they have been through.
“I visited an IDP camp on Saturday and had the privilege of teaching a math class to some children. But the sight of hundreds of children running around and unable to attend school was very gut wrenching. It still breaks my heart. So, we cannot say the insurgency is over until all the displaced children return to schools.”
Atiku also said that citizens are not just about jobs and incomes; the reason government should take measures to facilitate citizens engagement, especially the youth.
He said: “Our young people have to take greater interest in public affairs. And I am not just talking about voting in elections. They should be organised and participate in debates on public policy and community service.
“And as a country, we have to find ways to lift up those who need help, to give voice to the voiceless, to listen to the voices of those who feel marginalised and left behind, and find ways to address their concerns.
