Former Nigerian Head of State Abubakar Rules Out Military Return to Power

A former Military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has bid farewell to military intervention in Nigerian politics, saying there is no alternative to civil rule.

He argued that democracy is the only viable form of government in the nation and that military rule is a thing of the past, according to Persecondnews.

He also urged political parties to continue to promote democracy and strengthen democratic institutions.

Abubakar also emphasized the importance of well-funded state police, constitutional reforms, and party supremacy in order to maintain political stability at the launch of a book on Nigeria’s political evolution (IPAC) in Abuja.

The book is titled: “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria, 1923 – 2023”.

The former head of state, who was represented by Gen. Abdulrasheed Aliyu,
expressed satisfaction that democracy has survived the country’s reactionary forces’ atrocities over the past 25 years.

Abdulsalami urged Nigerians and the political parties to nurture the tree of democracy, saying he was proud to have established a solid foundation by giving power to civilian authorities in 1999.

He said:” Despite military interventions, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
There is no substitute for democracy, which represents that the people’s sovereignty rests with the people, by the people and by the people.

The longest period of constitutional government since October 1st, 1960, when the nation was granted independence from the British colonial masters, will also be celebrated in Nigeria this year, which will mark the start of 26 years of uninterrupted democracy.

I’m pleased that my government, as the head of state of the then-military, gave birth to the democratic era when I succeeded in granting power to the president on May 29, 1999. This solid foundation for democratic governance was laid by my government.

“It also shows that when leaders are patriotic, passionate, resolute and unwavering in building strong democratic structures and institutions, democracy could flourish and yield its dividends to citizens”.

Abdulsalami, who called for party supremacy, adherence to party manifestoes and the formation of a party based on ideology, said: “We should, therefore, keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy as there is no alternative to civil rule.

Reactionary forces have tested and shook our democracy, and it has survived. It is a testament to citizen’s belief and resilience in representative governance.

In line with the IPAC mandate, it has become convenient to examine the political parties’ development priorities in order to consolidate the country’s democracy and create an environment conducive to successful elections and political stability.

I have no doubt that this book, its discussions, and its recommendations will help us all improve our political process because knowledge is power.

The Chairman of the event, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, corroborated Abdulsalami’s position, saying strong political parties and opposition were vital for good governance.

He argued that opposition parties should be permitted to contribute to the development of democracy.

After over 30 years of military rule, Abbas urged politicians to stop using ethnicity to gain political and personal advantage as evidenced by Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999.

Abbas, represented by House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, decried the hijack of parties by people with” deep pockets”, saying members should be made to pay dues and to own the party.

Our parties today engage in a “trying to get a loan from the Nigerian bank” before even offering you a membership card. It needs to be reviewed.

“Political parties must serve as platforms for ideation, policy innovation, and citizen engagement, rather than tools for personal aggrandizement or factional dominance.

The strength of a democracy is measured by the ability of its opposition to offer constructive criticism and alternative means of governance, according to the statement.

Political parties’ internal democracy must contribute to the development of political representations.
We can end our political management system’s imposition and godfatherism by doing this by doing so.

All democrats in Nigeria have a duty to defend their democracy, and we must take the bull by the horns. The time is now. “

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, urged political parties to promote internal democracy.

He referred to internal democracy as the foundation of a reliable general election.

Effective leadership recruitment, according to the INEC Chairman, represented by Mr. Sam Olumekun, the national commissioner in charge of political parties and election monitoring. Only successful candidates are chosen after properly conducted party primaries are chosen.

He claimed that when political parties internalize democratic principles
processes, it enhances public confidence in the electoral system and strengthens democratic governance.

Yakubu said:” Unfortunately, we have witnessed instances where lack of internal democracy has led to disputes, litigations, and disruptions in the electoral process. It is, therefore, imperative that political parties remain committed to transparent, fair, and credible primaries.

I urge all political parties to strengthen their internal governance systems in order to ensure that their decisions reflect the members’ wishes as we approach upcoming elections.

Democratic political parties are what create a democratic society. Instead of installing behemoths, political parties must invest in creating strong, law-abiding institutions with distinct ideological leanings.

Yakubu called for a holistic electoral reform, saying:” No democracy is perfect, it is a continuous journey of reform and improvement.

“As an electoral management body, INEC is committed to ensuring that our electoral processes remain credible, transparent, and inclusive”.

“But some areas of our electoral framework need urgent changes to ensure that our elections are fair and responsive to changing circumstances.

The commission is already collaborating with the National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to organize a retreat where urgent reforms will be discussed. We are aware that INEC and the National Assembly are not the only ones in charge of electoral reforms.

No other structured effort has been made in a decade to address the persistent instability in the political system, according to former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, besides the still-born constitutional conferences of 2006 and 2014.

He said national instability has led to insecurity, economic regression and the heavy burden of maladministration.

The need for national dialogue and a minimum of consensus on the terms of the union cannot be ignored or overemphasized, as Ayim said in any heterogenous or plural nation with similar complexities as Nigeria.

Nigeria desperately needs to get rid of her and her components of the suspicions, distrust, and hostility that have prevented her from developing into the stable nation and contending global power she has every potential to be, according to this generation of leaders and elite.

The Chairman of IPAC, Mr. Yusuf Dantalle, described the book as a beacon of knowledge and insight, highlighting the struggles and progress that had defined Nigeria’s political journey.

He claimed that the document also exemplified Nigeria’s diverse history, evolution, and resilience.

Source: Per Second News