According to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is attempting to sabotage Nigeria’s democratic process by giving opposition party leaders N50 million per.
Atiku warned that if immediate action is not taken, the country’s democracy might collapse during his speech on Monday in Abuja at a national summit on bolstering democracy, which was organized by a number of civil organizations.
“I want to openly state it here. I spoke with the leadership of a political party in the current opposition, and they told me straight out that they receive N50 million apiece from this government,” Atiku disclosed.
He cast doubt on the opposition parties’ dedication 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.” Are we truly prepared to battle for democracy?
In addition to denouncing the present National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” for the administration and casting doubt on the legitimacy of Nigeria’s electoral arbiter, Atiku bemoaned the decline of democratic norms.
He gave the example of Turkey, where the election authority declined to declare a president-elect who did not receive the necessary number of votes, as an example of integrity Nigeria could follow.
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He urged opposition parties to come together and reflected on his decades-long fight for democracy, mentioning personal sacrifices such as being exiled, having his enterprises seized, and having his life attempted.
“We might not have democracy at all if we don’t band together and do something. “God forbid,” Atiku said.
