By John Ogunsemore
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on opposition parties in the country to form a coalition to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku made the call in a statement to mark Democracy Day on Wednesday, June 12.
He noted that Nigerian democracy is not yet virile if it continually fails to deliver the promises of prosperity and liberty to the people.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the past nine years has thrown up a regime of extreme hardship manifested in excruciating poverty and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity among Nigerians.
“Sadly, the ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom.
“But the opposition political parties are even more guilty than the ruling party for the seeming lack of capacity to come together and galvanise a coalition that will retire the ruling party and articulate a plan of good governance that will earn the conviction of Nigerians.
“Today, the failings of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to our democracy.
“The earlier they realise that the fortunes of Nigeria lie in their forging a coalition, the better it will be for our country and the people,” Atiku said.
Recall that the PDP presidential candidate and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, met behind closed doors in Abuja in May, prompting calls for an alliance ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku and Obi were first and second runners-up in the 2023 presidential election won by President Bola Tinubu.