THE CABLE NG
Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says for democracy in Nigeria to come of age, incumbent political officeholders must stop influencing election outcomes.
In his Democracy Day message on Sunday, Atiku said political leaders must be committed to the principles of fairness in election conduct, to avoid a dictatorship society.
Democracy Day is commemorated annually in Nigeria on June 12.
The former PDP presidential candidate said his observation of how democracy is run in Nigeria has convinced him that “a lot of work still lies ahead”.
He added that democracy in the country “remains in bondage”.
“On this occasion of Democracy Day, it is time for us to reflect as a people and a country on our journey to becoming a democratic society,” the statement reads in part
“For Nigerians who were around during the dark days of military dictatorships, it is important that we appreciate the successes that we have achieved in making democracy the norm of politics in Nigeria.
