Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar has declared that Nigeria was yet to have a free and fair election, 64 years after independence.
The former Vice President stated this in his Independence Day message to Nigerians in commemoration of the country’s 64th independence anniversary.
Atiku urged Nigerians to rise and reclaim the nation’s democracy from the “encroaching shadows of oppression”, emphasising that the country is yet to achieve “genuinely” free and fair elections.
“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 said.
The former VP added, “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.
“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 endeavours and those of subsequent generations.”
Continuing, Atiku said, “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 charged political leaders across different parties to form a coalition to steer the nation towards a promising future, stressing that Nigeria needs a strong opposition to stop the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from “turning the country into a one-party state”.
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