‘All is not well,’ Atiku Abubakar speaks on Nigeria at 59

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that all is not well with Nigeria.

The former Vice President said that much on Monday in his message commemorating Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary.

According to him, the nation’s founding fathers could never have fathomed that 59 years after birthing the largest black nation on earth, Nigerian would be facing a situation where free press is endangered.

READ ALSO: RECOVERY OF ITEMS FOR CONSTITUENCY: Kashamu berates ICPC for ‘shameful’ conduct

He said Nigeria’s founding fathers could also not have imagined that the nation’s judiciary would be under attack and that the youths and activists hounded endlessly.

Atiku said, “I could call for prayers, as others would indeed call for today. I could also call on Nigerians to show more understanding, as indeed many have said in the past and will undoubtedly say again today. But I am mindful of the fact that the time for rhetoric has long since passed and now is the time for all lovers of Nigeria to take concrete steps to aid Nigeria’s progress, by not just praying and showing understanding, but also to take democratic action to ensure that the ideals of our founding fathers – Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress – are not set aside on the altar of tyranny.

“All is not well when judges are persecuted for enforcing the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights of Nigerian citizens. All is not well when Nigeria is now officially the world headquarters for extreme poverty and out-of-school children, yet the cost of maintaining those in government continues to grow, while the needs of the governed are not being met. And certainly, all is no well when the media cannot freely express itself without the fear that those who wield the big stick would use it on them for saying things as they are.

“So, rather than just call for prayers today, I am calling on all Nigerians to believe in Nigeria’s betterment, to work for Nigeria’s betterment, and to insist that no one in Nigeria, no matter how highly placed, shall be bigger than the laws of our land,” he added.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now