No alternative to civil rule — Abdulsalami

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has said that democracy remains the only viable system of governance for Nigeria, stating that there is no alternative to civil rule.

Abdulsalami stated this on Thursday at the launch of the book titled: ‘100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria – The Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions’, organised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja.

“Despite military interventions, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. There is no substitute for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which democracy represents, as sovereignty resides with the people,” he stated.

The statement by the former military ruler came at a time when some Nigerians have suggested that military intervention could be a solution to Nigeria’s political challenges.

In August 2024, some protesters waved Russian flags and called for military intervention during the nationwide protest against hardship and bad governance in Kaduna, Kano, and some other northern states.

Barely two months after the protest, some Nigerians in a viral video blocked some military personnel’s vehicles while calling on them to take over the current administration.

However, Abdulsalami, who oversaw the country’s transition to democracy in 1999, stressed the importance of nurturing democratic institutions.

His words: “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 can 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 citizens’ 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 to 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.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described political parties as the oxygen of Nigeria’s political system, stating that no Nigerian can participate in any election unless they are a member of a political party and are sponsored by that party.

Yakubu, represented by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, however, called for urgent electoral reforms, stressing the need for internal democracy within political parties.

He added, “Unfortunately, we have witnessed instances where lack of internal democracy has led to disputes, litigations, and disruptions in the electoral process. Political parties must ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members.”

Yakubu explained that a lot of responsibility lies with the political parties to ensure that electoral outcomes ultimately reflect the aspirations of the people.

He said, “One of the key responsibilities of political parties is the conduct of credible primary elections. Internal party democracy is the foundation upon which credible general elections are built. Effective leadership recruitment is made possible only when eligible persons with capacity are selected through duly conducted party primaries and put up for elections. When political parties uphold democratic principles in their internal processes, it enhances public confidence in the electoral system and strengthens democratic governance.

“As we move towards future elections, I urge all political parties to strengthen their internal governance mechanisms and ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members.”

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, in his address, traced Nigeria’s struggles with political stability to unresolved historical issues.

He noted that failures of past constitutional conferences under military rule raise questions about whether those in power were genuinely seeking solutions or simply legitimising their political incursion.

He called for a national dialogue to address lingering issues of instability, arguing that Nigeria’s growth depends on consensus-building.