Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria's democracy hasn't delivered prosperity to ordinary citizens. Speaking at a Democracy Day Dialogue in Abuja on Friday, the former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate blamed political leaders for betraying democratic ideals.
He painted a bleak picture of life for millions of Nigerians. The cost of living has spiraled beyond reach, he noted, with fuel, medicine, and transport now luxuries only the wealthy can access.
Food insecurity has become the daily reality for too many families. According to Atiku, "Farms lie fallow, markets stand empty and for too many of our people have grown accustomed to going to bed hungry in a country that cannot even guarantee their safety."
Democracy exists on paper but fails citizens in practice, he argued. "Seventy per cent of Nigerians do not believe elections reflect their wishes or allow them to vote out bad government," Atiku stated during the Coalition Political Action Committee event.
Institutions meant to protect citizens appear weaponized against them instead. He said governance is absent while Nigeria celebrates a hollowed-out version of democracy marked by constitutional overreach.
Corruption operates without consequence in the nation. Political actors pursue narrow interests over unity, Atiku noted, warning that the erosion of democratic structures has infected every part of society.
Insecurity has transformed entire regions into zones of terror and bloodshed. Citizens are dying daily in senseless violence, he lamented, while stretched military and security forces lack proper resources and non-military support.
An ADC government would tackle these crises urgently and practically. According to him, his party would restore dignity to hardworking Nigerians by ending the cost-of-living emergency.
Food security would be secured through concrete action. "We will tackle wage stagnation in realistic ways and on credible timelines," Atiku promised.
His words reflect mounting frustration among opposition figures. Democracy Day observances have become platforms for airing deep grievances about national decline.
