Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alerted the federal and State governments that Nigeria’s 14 million out-of-school children might soon be recruited by Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists if they fail to return them to classrooms.
Obasanjo, who spoke to participants at the presidential youth mentorship retreat held at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, said the nation’s security challenges is linked to lack of proper education.
He noted that about 14 million children who ought to be in school are on the streets, saying that the situation is capable of worsening the nation’s security situation.
According the former President, “a situation today where we have 14 million children that should be in school that are not in school, does anybody need to be an oracle to say that 10 years or 15 years from now, those will be where you will recruit pure Boko Haram.
“So, if you deal with Boko Haram by stick today, in a few years’ time, the situation will be worst because we are talking about security, it will be worst.
“So, if we are talking of insecurity, where should we begin? If we are talking of poverty, where should we begin? It is education.
“Somebody asked ‘if everybody is educated, who will be a servant?’ and I said if everybody is educated, then we will get a better servant than you should have gotten from those that are not educated.”
The former President maintained that the unity of Nigeria is paramount, stressing that he would fight for the unity of Nigeria throughout his life.
“I have no regret fighting for the unity of Nigeria and if it comes up tomorrow that it should be done and I have ability to do it, I will do what I have to do,” he added.
Copyright PUNCH