SOLDIERS cannot return to power because military rule is outdated, former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, said yesterday.
He noted that in the last 25 years, democratic rule has survived the onslaught of reactionary forces.
Gen. Abdulsalami said he was proud of laying a solid foundation by handing over power to civilian authorities.
Urging Nigerians and the political parties to nurture the tree of democracy, the former military leader said: “There is no alternative to civil rule.’’
Gen. Abdulsalami spoke at the launch of a book titled: “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria, 1923 – 2023’’ by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja.
The former head of state, who was represented by Gen. Abdulrasheed Aliyu, spoke on “100 years of political parties evolution in Nigeria – The imperative of Nigeria’s political stability: issues and solutions.”
Echoing Gen. Abdulsalami, who chaired the event, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, said strong political parties and opposition were vital for good governance.
Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, urged political parties to promote internal democracy.
Gen. Abdulsalami said the fact that democracy has survived in the country for 25 years attested to Nigerians’ resilience and belief in representative governance.
He said: “Despite military interventions, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
“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.
“This year will also make it 26 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, the longest period of constitutional governance since 1st October 1960, when the country got Independence from the British colonial masters.
“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.”
Gen. Abdulsalami added: “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 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.
“Since knowledge is power, I have no doubt that we will all be enriched with this book and deliberations on it and chart the way forward in our political process.”
Gen. Abdulsalami called for party supremacy, adherence to party manifestoes and the formation of a party based on ideology.
Speaker Abbas said Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999 marked a new beginning for the nation after over 30 years of military rule.
He urged politicians to stop weaponising ethnicity for political and personal gains.
Abbas, represented by House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, decried the hijack of parties by people with deep pockets.
He believes members should be made to pay dues and to own the party.