Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar delivered a poignant Democracy Day message on Tuesday, asserting that while democracy remains the best system of government, it has yet to deliver prosperity and liberty to Nigerians, particularly in the past nine years.
In his address, Abubakar emphasized the significance of commemorating June 12 as Democracy Day, highlighting its role in marking the nation’s long journey towards stable democratic governance.
“Truth be told, there’s no substitute to democracy as a form of government,” said Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic progress, he paid tribute to the sacrifices of many patriots, including Basorun MKO Abiola, his wife Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Tafida Shehu Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane, among others. Abubakar noted that these individuals played crucial roles in dismantling military and dictatorial regimes, thereby restoring power to the people.
“It is commendable that for 25 years, we have witnessed an uninterrupted season of electoral politics. It is an unprecedented epoch in our history,” he stated. “It is worthy of celebration and commendation must go to the people of our great country. I must also congratulate the political class for having embraced the rectitude of nurturing a democracy, as well as the civil society.”
However, Abubakar pointed out that democracy has not yet become robust if it fails to deliver prosperity and liberty to the populace. He criticized the past nine years as a period marked by extreme hardship, poverty, and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity.
“Sadly, the ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom,” Abubakar remarked. He further criticized opposition political parties for their inability to unite and form a coalition capable of ousting the ruling party and presenting a viable governance plan to Nigerians.
“Today, the failings of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to our democracy,” he said. “The earlier they realise that the fortunes of Nigeria lies in their forging a coalition, the better it will be for our country and the people.”
