By John Audu.
In a striking revelation, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process by allegedly offering opposition party leaders N50 million each. Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja, organized by various civic organizations, Atiku warned that the nation’s democracy is at a critical juncture, facing the risk of collapse without immediate intervention.
“I want to say it here publicly. I met with leaders from a political party within the opposition, and they told me outright that this government is giving them N50 million each,” Atiku disclosed, raising concerns about the integrity of opposition parties in the face of such financial inducements. He questioned their commitment to democracy, stating, “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?”
Atiku lamented the erosion of democratic values in Nigeria, criticizing the current National Assembly as a mere “rubber stamp” for the government and expressing doubts regarding the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral commission. He pointed to Turkey as an example, where the electoral body upheld its integrity by refusing to declare a president-elect who did not meet the necessary vote threshold—a standard he believes Nigeria should aspire to.
In a passionate call for unity among opposition parties, Atiku reflected on his decades-long struggle for democracy, recounting personal sacrifices, including an assassination attempt, the seizure of his businesses, and periods of exile. “If we don’t unite and take action, we may end up with no democracy at all. God forbid,” he concluded, urging all stakeholders to come together to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic future.
