Rita Odafe
Atiku Accuses Tinubu’s Administration of Undermining Democracy
Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has made serious accusations against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He claims that the president’s government is offering N50 million to leaders of opposition parties as a means to weaken Nigeria’s democratic framework.
This revelation was made during a national conference aimed at reinforcing democracy, which took place on Monday in Abuja and was hosted by several civic organizations.
Atiku warned that without immediate intervention, Nigeria’s democracy could be in jeopardy.
He stated: “I need to publicly address this issue. I spoke with leaders from the current opposition, and they confirmed that they receive N50 million each from this government.”
“We must be cautious; some among us might be beneficiaries of that N50 million from the APC government. Are we truly committed to fighting for democracy?”
He expressed concern over the decline in democratic principles, criticizing the current National Assembly for acting merely as a “rubber stamp” for government policies, and casting doubt on the integrity of Nigeria’s election management body.
Atiku referenced Turkey as an example, where the electoral commission did not declare a president-elect who did not meet the voting criteria, advocating for a similar standard of integrity in Nigeria.
He urged opposition parties to collaborate, sharing his long-standing dedication to democracy, which has included enduring personal sacrifices like an assassination attempt, business confiscation, and forced exile.
“If we fail to unite and act, we risk losing our democracy entirely. God forbid,” Atiku emphasized.
