JUST IN: The past 9 years has thrown up extreme hardship

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has delivered a stinging critique of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of plunging Nigeria into severe hardship over the past nine years.

In his address to mark Democracy Day, Atiku also called for unity among opposition parties to restore hope and effective governance to the nation.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Atiku emphasized the importance of June 12, paying tribute to key figures such as Basorun MKO Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Tafida Shehu Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane, who fought tirelessly to establish and sustain democracy in Nigeria.

“Truth be told, there’s no substitute to democracy as a form of government,” he stated.

However, he lamented that despite this milestone, Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile and has failed to deliver prosperity and liberty to its citizens.

He attributed the current “extreme hardship” and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity to the APC’s governance over the last nine years.

“The ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom,” he declared.

He also criticized opposition parties for their failure to unite against the ruling party.

He argued that their inability to form a cohesive coalition has prevented them from effectively challenging the APC and presenting a credible alternative to the Nigerian people.

“Today, the failings of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to our democracy,” he stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, also called on all political stakeholders to recognize the importance of coalition-building and to work together to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic future.

“The earlier they realize that the fortunes of Nigeria lie in their forging a coalition, the better it will be for our country and the people,” he stated.