Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns about the future of Nigeria’s democracy, warning of a potential crisis if critical issues are not addressed.
Speaking at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria in Abuja on Monday, Atiku expressed that the country’s democracy is at a crossroads and could face complete erosion if necessary actions are not taken.
The 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party emphasized that the current state of Nigeria’s democracy is not the fault of any single person or administration, but a result of long-standing neglect and failure to act. He stressed that unless there is a renewed commitment to safeguarding democratic values, the nation could face serious consequences.
Atiku also called for the formation of a broad political coalition or merger of political parties that could challenge the dominance of the All Progressives Congress and bring about a meaningful change. He pointed out that state capture has made it difficult for Nigeria to achieve democratic reforms, further deepening the challenges facing the country.
In his ongoing efforts to protect democratic principles, Atiku mentioned his legal actions, which have led to significant judicial rulings aimed at strengthening democratic practices. He reaffirmed his commitment to defending democracy, underscoring that true democracy is characterized by the people’s freedom to choose their leaders, regular elections, accountability of leaders, and consequences for those who fail to adhere to democratic norms.
His words, “There’s no doubt that our democracy is at a crossroads. Put simply, it is at the risk of eroding completely. And it is not caused by one single person or one single administration.
“In fact, a number of us have been warning over the years that we may come to this pass if we lose our vigilance and fail to take corrective actions to protect and deepen our democracy,” Atiku said.
“Democracy is characterised by, among other things, people’s freedom to choose their leaders; periodic elections, which partly ensure leaders’ commitment to the welfare of the governed, leaders’ acceptance of guardrails (without restraints leaders tend to accumulate and abuse power); consequences for non-compliance, including rejection at the polls,” Atiku added.
