Former vice president Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria is sliding into authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s government and the ruling All Progressives Congress is ready to crush other political parties, while calling on political elites across parties to unite to save Nigeria’s democracy.

In his Independence Day speech on Tuesday, Mr Abubakar called for the kind of political activism by Nigeria’ founding fathers that led to its independence 64 years ago.

“I call on the political elite to unite in the noble mission of safeguarding our democracy from the brink of authoritarianism,” Mr Abubakar said. “Our founding fathers united under a common cause, championing our independence through peaceful, political activism. What we celebrate today is the fruition of their collective endeavours and those of subsequent generations.”

He added, “It is deeply regrettable that our current landscape reflects a troubling decline in electoral credibility, increasingly manipulated by those in power. Our political milieu has become corrosive; opposition parties languish in weakness, while the ruling party appears to manipulate internal processes to render them ineffectual. Nigeria teeters on the brink of a one-party dictatorship, and it is incumbent upon all politicians and statesmen of integrity to rise and reclaim our democracy from the encroaching shadows of oppression.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast, contrary to Mr Abubakar’s claims, said “The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.”

“Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world. 

“Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers,” Mr Tinubu said.