Former Vice-President and PDP presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubukar has said that disunity among opposition parties constitutes the worst threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Gatekeepers News reports that Atiku said this through a post on his official X account on Wednesday.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of throwing the citizens into extreme poverty.
Atiku had since the end of the 2023 elections, been pushing for all opposition political parties to unite to defeat the ruling party ahead of the 2027 election.
Also on May 18, Atiku revealed he has been discussing with the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi on the possibility of a merger.
Atiku further revealed that he would support anyone chosen to represent the PDP in the next election, even if the candidate is from the south-east.
Atiku urged opposition parties to collide and challenge the ruling party and make plans for good governance.
Referring to it as an unprecedented feat in Nigeria’s history, Atiku said the country has witnessed an uninterrupted season of electoral politics for 25 years.
He said “The secondary purpose of declaring every June 12 as Democracy Day in our country is to commemorate the history of our long journey of becoming a stable democratic country. Truth be told, there’s no substitute to democracy as a form of government.”
“Whereas our current democratic dispensation is a quarter of a century old, it will not be out of place to pay tributes to the sacrifices made by many patriots, chiefly among them Basorun MKO Abiola and his beloved wife, Alhaja (Mrs) Kudirat Abiola, Tafida Shehu Yar’Adua and Alfred Rewane, among many others.”
“The historical timeline of the struggle that birthed this democracy is abundant with a series of coalitions and alliances amongst the political leaderships of that era to flush away the vestiges of military and dictatorial governance in order to return 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.”
“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. It is important that all stakeholders continue to do their bit to ensure the sustainability of our democracy. But our democracy is not yet virile if it continually fails to deliver the promises of prosperity and liberty to the people.”
“However, the past nine years has thrown up a regime of extreme hardship manifested in excruciating poverty and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity upon our people. Sadly, the ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom.”
“But the opposition political parties are even more guilty than the ruling party for the seeming lack of capacity to come together and galvanize a coalition that will retire the ruling party and articulate a plan of good governance that will earn the conviction of Nigerians.”
“Today, the failings of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to our democracy. 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.”
