In a striking revelation, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed regret over his role in the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, suggesting that Nigeria’s current challenges have worsened under the administration that followed.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Atiku recalled how opposition leaders united to form APC, intending to address what they saw as mounting problems under the leadership of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We did this exercise in 2014, not so? We came together and formed APC because we felt democracy was faltering, only for us to end up at the same position we found ourselves in 2014, worse,” Atiku said.
Why He Regrets the Move
Atiku pointed out that the primary concerns in 2014 were insecurity and economic instability. Yet, he argued, the current situation surpasses those challenges, leaving Nigerians grappling with deeper social, economic, and political difficulties.
“In 2014, the major challenges were insecurity, the economy and so on. Now it is even worse than what we fought against,” he noted.
Lessons for Nigeria’s Political Future
The former vice president urged political actors to learn from past experiences. He emphasized that any new political coalition must focus on restoring “true democracy” in Nigeria, rather than repeating previous mistakes.
“We must have that in mind. We must succeed to make sure that we restore true democracy to our country,” Atiku added.
The press conference, themed “Urgent Call to Save Nigeria’s Democracy,” also saw prominent opposition leaders in attendance, signaling a collective concern over the state of the nation’s governance. Analysts suggest that such reflections could influence upcoming political strategies and alliances as Nigeria approaches critical elections.
