O
Oladipo Abiola
Guest
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, declared that the country is currently on the brink of a one-party dictatorship.
He, therefore, called on leaders of the opposition parties in the country to come together and form a coalition to prevent this from happening.
Atiku made the observation and call in a statement on Monday on the occasion of the nation’s 64th Independence anniversary celebration.
According to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the founding fathers of the country made great sacrifices to keep the country as one and the current generation must strive to live in unity as envisioned by the esteemed founders.
Atiku emphasized that the anniversary milestone is not merely a commemoration but a tribute to the indomitable spirit and unwavering resolve of Nigerians who steadfastly believe in the potential of their homeland.
While congratulating the country for maintaining its longest democratic dispensation since its creation, the former Vice President voiced the need to prevent the nation’s democracy from slipping into authoritarianism.
“Our nation has traversed numerous tumultuous phases, yet the tenacity of patriotic citizens, bolstered by the solidarity of our international allies, has fortified our resolve as a resilient entity,” he proclaimed.
“On this day, as we mark 64 years of nationhood, we take pride in the enduring establishment of democracy in Nigeria, highlighted by the longest period of democratic governance in our history.”
He added that, “While democracy has anchored our institutions in the principles of the rule of law, we have yet to achieve satisfactory progress in fostering political inclusivity and ensuring elections that are genuinely free and fair.
“Our founding fathers united under a common cause, championing our independence through peaceful, political activism. What we celebrate today is the fruition of their collective endeavors and those of subsequent generations.”
Atiku emphasized the need for opposition political parties to provide Nigerians with a credible opposition capable of steering the nation toward a promising future, even as he submitted that the current landscape reflects a troubling decline in electoral credibility, increasingly subject to the caprices of the ruling class.
“Our political milieu has become corrosive; opposition parties languish in weakness, while the ruling party appears to manipulate internal processes to render them ineffectual. Nigeria teeters on the brink of a one-party dictatorship, and it is incumbent upon all politicians and statesmen of integrity to rise and reclaim our democracy from the encroaching shadows of oppression,” Atiku declared.
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