Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has stated that democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage ahead of the 2023 Democracy Day on Monday, June 12.
A statement released on Sunday by Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, said the governing elite must stop influencing outcome of elections.
Atiku said the occasion of June 12 is a time for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey to becoming a democratic society.
“Democracy without a corresponding commitment to the principles of fairness and fidelity to the rule of play by stakeholders in the processes of conducting elections still leaves the people prostrate to tendencies of dictatorship,” Atiku stated.
“For our democracy to be fully fledged, it must constantly evolve away from the current practice where the governing elite determines the outcome of elections.”
“Democracy and the process of democratization is a constant work in progress. While what we celebrate today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, the desire to make our democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats.
“The challenge ahead of us and the future of our democracy will rely heavily on what we do or fail to do today,” he stated.
“As I congratulate Nigerians on this day, in celebration of return to civil rule, I also call our consciousness to the reality that democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage and it will need the energy of all of us to rescue it.”