Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria’s democracy may collapse if the country continues on its current trajectory.
Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja on Monday, January 27, Atiku raised concerns about governance, the judiciary, and the role of political parties.
“We really are at a crossroads in this democratic experiment,” Atiku stated. “We either decide we want to be democratic, or we decide to abandon it.” He expressed worries over what he described as the growing influence of the judiciary in determining political outcomes, a role he argued should primarily rest with the electorate.
Atiku also criticized the shift in power dynamics between governance and political parties. “Now, governance dictates to the political parties, whereas political parties should have been directing governance on what should be done because that is their role,” he said.
The former vice president alleged that opposition leaders are being financially induced by the ruling party. “I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each,” Atiku claimed.
He questioned the sincerity of some opposition leaders in defending democracy, stating, “Where do we go from here? If we are not careful, some of you here are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government. Do we really want to fight for democracy? If we don’t, we all go back to our homes.”
Atiku emphasized his long-standing commitment to democratic struggles, recalling personal sacrifices. “I have been in this struggle for over 30 years. An attempt was made on my life, I escaped, and I went into exile. My businesses were taken over, yet I never gave up. I am not doing this for myself; I have lived my life. I am doing it for you,” he said.
Atiku expressed doubts about the National Assembly’s willingness to adopt his proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, describing the legislative body as a “rubber stamp for the government.” He stressed, however, that the future of democracy depends on individual commitment.
“With the current National Assembly, I don’t see them adopting most of the recommendations I made,” he remarked. “But it all depends on us. If we don’t fight for democracy, we risk losing it altogether. God forbid.”
He urged opposition political parties to unite and find solutions to the challenges threatening democracy. “I think the current system has been bastardized. As El-Rufai said, there is a need for the entire opposition to think of a way out of the situation. Otherwise, we may end up with no democracy at all,” he warned.
He also highlighted the importance of political party funding as a critical factor in strengthening democracy. “This is crucial to strengthening political parties,” Atiku added.
