Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has accused politicians of stoking the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram ahead of 2015 elections.
Speaking during an interview she said that things always seem to heat up in the country whenever elections are approaching as politicians would go to any length to win the elections.
"What we are going through now is democracy in raw form, because people are fighting for power and they will use anything to get there ... and to win the election," Okonjo-Iweala said.
She explained that the Federal Government could handle Boko Haram as this is not the first time insurgency has been halted in the country, citing the Niger Delta militants who were attacking oil facilities as an example. She added that Boko Haram's threats did not measure to that of the Biafran War that split the country from 1967-1970.
Oknojo-Iweala said Nigeria would overcome its challenges but hoped politicians would heed to the appeal of President Jonathan at the National security meeting last Thursday in Abuja where he called on all to be united in the fight against terrorism.
Okonjo revealed that the government was preparing a special development plan for its poor, violence-hit northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and increasing spending to counter Boko Haram activities in the area.
Okonjo said the insurgents were receiving 'cross-border' backing from supporters in neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad and that what the country needs to do is look for the source of financing of the Boko Haram.
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