Former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has said that he is happy that his government ushered in the current era of democracy in Nigeria.
The ex-Head of State spoke as the Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council’s Book launch, themed “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria, the Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions’.
Abubakar noted that 2025 will make it 102 years of the formation of political parties in the country, adding that it was a milestone in the nation’s democratic process.
He noted that despite military interventions, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, insisting that there is no substitute to the government of the people, by the people and for the people, which democracy represents as sovereignty resides with the people.
The former Head of State also noted that the 26 years of unbroken democracy in the country is the longest period of constitutional governance since 1st October 1960.
“I am happy that my government, as the then military Head of State ushered in this era of democracy when I handed over power to the elected President on 29th May 1999.
“My government laid this solid foundation for democratic governance. 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.
“We should therefore keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy as there is no alternative to civil rule. Our democracy has been tested and shaken by reactionary forces and survived. It is a testament to citizen’s belief and resilience in representative governance.
“It has become expedient to explore political parties’ development priorities so as to consolidate the nation’s democracy and ensure an environment conducive for successful elections and political stability which is in tandem with the IPAC mandate.
“We have all learned a lot in this longest period of democracy in Nigeria, as we continue the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments to correct obvious flaws in the electoral process and imbibe democratic ideals, ethics and values, the nation will yet again witness sustainable democracy and development,” he said.