Atiku: Democracy leaving Nigeria as he berates ‘rubber stamp’ National Assembly
In the wake of decline in democratic principles in Nigeria, former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has warned that democracy gradually leaving Nigeria.
Atiku made this known on Monday in Abuja as a judge at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organised by African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the Westminster for Democracy (WFD), the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), and the National Peace Committee (NPC).
“We really are at a crossroads in this democratic experiment. We either decide we want to be democratic or we decide to abandon it,” he said.
He noted that the winners of elections are now being decided by courts, not the people, saying that party challenges have become governance.
“Now, governance dictates to the political parties, whereas political parties should have been directing governance on what should be done because that is their role.
“They interact with ordinary people, go on campaigns, and so on,” he said.
He stated that these challenges should be seen how the National Assembly, by laws and legislations, can aid achievement. Democracy Leaving Nigeria – Atiku
He disclosed that he proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, but admitted that it was not expecting them to consider them, even if they were recommended for development.
“With the current National Assembly, I don’t see them adopting most of the recommendations I made.
“As someone said here, we have a National Assembly that is a rubber stamp for the government. But I refuse to agree. It all depends on us,” he added.
He sampled how the Turkish electoral body declined to declare President Recep Erdogan as the winner of election after he failed to reach the expected quota of votes, having garnered votes of 49.5%, with the constitution of the country expecting 50% of anyone before being declared as the winner.
Atiku posed a question at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if it exhibits such credibility.
‘Tinubu Administration Offering Opposition N50m’
Alhaji Atiku also alleged that the incumbent administration has been enticing the opposition party leaders.
“I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.
“Where do we go from here? This means that if we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government.
“Do we really want to fight for democracy? If we don’t, we all go back to our homes. But if we do, I have been in this struggle for over 30 years, an attempt was made on my life, and I escaped.
“I went into exile, but I never gave up. My businesses were taken over, and I am still surviving. So, you need to make up your mind.
“I am not doing it for myself. For me, I have lived my life. I am doing it because of you.”
When questioned on what to do with the “winning at all costs” mentality among major parties, Atiku said, “I think the current system has been bastardised.
“As El-Rufai said, there is a need for the entire opposition political parties to think of a way out of the situation.
“Otherwise, we may end up with no democracy at all. God forbid. Again, maybe history is about to repeat itself because that was the same threat the other opposition political parties were facing when APC was formed. We have to learn from that historical fact.”
He also stated the significance of party financing. “This is crucial to strengthening political parties,” he said.
Opposition Must Come Together To Rescue Democracy – El-Rufai
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, amplified Atiku’s concerns, calling the present situation with the opposition members, style of leadership and quality of governance a National Emergency.
He emphasised the need for the opposition parties to come together and create a wide platform to rescue democracy.
“The way and manner opposition political parties are being targeted for destruction and the style and quality of governance in this country today is a national emergency.
“It should concern everyone. And I think this is a problem for all of us to think about and play a role in changing it because, as His Excellency (Atiku) said, we stand the risk of losing democracy itself.”
He pointed that last election showed that 75% of registered voters in Nigeria are not willing to vote in 2027, stressing that, “This is very dangerous, and I believe every voice must rise to fight for this democracy.
“For those of us in our 60s, we lived half our lives under military rule.
We know what it is, and we don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits. Democracy Leaving Nigeria – Atiku
“So, this is a national emergency.”
He, then, implored all opposition political parties to form a big coalition party, as did APC in 2014, to rescue the country’s democracy, but must use democratic principles as the basis of its formation.
Efforts In Place To Destroy The Opposition Parties
The former Kaduna governor also aired his concerns on hunting down opposition parties in Nigeria, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which El-Rufai claimed is marked for destruction.
In his statement, “There are internal mercenaries in the PDP that have been hired, paid or otherwise motivated to destroy the party,” he said, predicting that “the party is on its way to the grave, and it is most unfortunate.”
He also alleged that similar ploy has been staged against Labour Party (LP), noting, recalling a discussion with Peter Obi, when Obi conceded, “I don’t know what is happening in the party that I contested for president.”
He also stressed that, “there seems to be a project to destroy all the opposition political parties” and insisted that the only viable option for the opposition is to unite and form a broad platform.
“We have to put aside our differences and create a broad platform that will do the driving of the military again because we are there almost again,” he said.
El-Rufai, making a reference to Alhaji Atiku, said: “So, Your Excellency, we need your experience and skills.”
APC Has No Plans Fixing Nigeria
Mallam El-Rufai lamented present situation of the ruling party (APC), which he happened to be one of its founders.
“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ of the APC has met for the past two years.
“No caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it is a zero-man show,” he added.
He narrated that the main purpose for forming the APC was to build a progressive party, aimed at fighting corruption, revamping the economy, and restoring security, but now, he can see that those objectives have been jettisoned.
“The problems are still there. However, I no longer believe that my party believes in confronting those problems.
“So, the distance between me and APC is widening, but I remain where I am because these problems remain the living problems of Nigerians and
they have to be addressed, and the only way to address them is through the instrumentality of the political parties,” he added. Democracy Leaving Nigeria – Atiku
Uneducated Party Representatives Responsible For Present Leadership
El-Rufai stressed further and proposed minimum qualification for both political party candidates and the delegates.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semiilliterates, cunning people, and so on as your leaders,” he said.
He issued a warning that inability to set such a standard will always bring about inept leadership: “You will end up with what we have. So, the parties must have a standard.”
While acceding that the constitution sets the minimum qualification, which is secondary school certificate, he stated that political parties should set their own standards.
He stated that as he is still a member of the APC, “This is a challenge to the opposition; you must come together and form a party that, in my view, should closely resemble the NPN of the second republic.
“That is one political party that was an effective machine.”
Power Is Not Gifted, Should Be Fought For – Amaechi
Reacting to the stance of one of the judges, the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said that majority of Nigerians is timid to defend their votes, claiming that power is not gifted, should be fought for.
He cited the election of Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, when mass-mobilised demonstration played a key role in ensuring the victory.
“The only way Shekarau became governor of Kano State was because people lined up.
When they asked, ‘How many people are there?’ they said, ‘Over 500,000.’ No, I won’t kill over 500,000; announce Shekarau.
“It happened in Ghana. Before the election of the last president, two days, a lot of us were called to intervene. Why did they do that?
“Because the people were ready to die. You are talking and abusing people. Nobody has power and will give it to you, not even me.
“If you want a pastor as president, go and get one. The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power.
“If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time,” he said.
Recalling his role in leading the APC to oust PDP in 2015, Amaechi noted that the former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat when he saw “we were ready to die.”
However, speaking at the conference, Vice President Kashim Shettima stated the importance of democracy despite its flaws.
Shettima, represented by Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, his Special Adviser on Political Matters, pinpointed the government’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
He remarked, “Democracy is not perfect, yet it remains superior to all other systems of government, he remarked.
“We will work to fix major weaknesses in our economy, secure our communities, fight corruption, and strengthen the judiciary’s independence to improve governance.”
Shettima implored Nigerians to unite in effort to nurture democracy, acknowledging the challenges by some government policies.
“We are honest about the challenges, but our commitment to easing the pain and staying focused on our goals remains steadfast, he said.
“Nigeria shall rise again,” he added.
Democracy Leaving Nigeria – Atiku