As Nigeria celebrates 25 years of continuous re-visitation to democracy, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the country’s economic woes.
June 12 is a day set aside annually to celebrate democracy. As of now, numerous Nigerians live in poverty as the country faces heaps of security difficulties.
In his message to Nigerians, the former vice president said the past nine years of the APC administration has invited difficulty on the people.
“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,” he said.
“Sadly, the ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom.”
While criticizing opposition parties for neglecting to unite and form an alliance equipped for unseating the ruling APC, he scolded the opposition parties for neglecting to present an administrative plan that would gain the confidence of Nigerians.
To Atiku, one of the optional reasons for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria is to recognize the historical backdrop of our prolonged journey towards turning into a stable democratic nation.
The former vice president communicated that there is no substitute for 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.”
