Abdulsalami Abubakar
How Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that his 22-year transition to civilian administration would have been hampered if he had caved in to pressure from some prominent Nigerian politicians who pressed him to stay in power longer.
After nine months in office, Abubakar, who replaced the late Sani Abacha's murderous dictatorship, vowed to give over to a democratically elected civilian administration, which he accomplished.
According to Vanguard, the former Head of State talked with media at his house in Minna, Niger State.
“There was no pressure from any sources on me to give over to the civilians; on the contrary, several Nigerians, particularly politicians, were pleading with me to remain longer because, at first, no one believed where the military was going when I said we were going to hand over. However, when they realized we were leaving, and because their fingers had already been burned twice because it was not the first time the military had announced its departure, politicians shied away from participating in political activity.
“However, it was when they realized that we were serious about doing business that they returned and asked, 'Why don't you extend your stay so that we can be a part of the country's emerging democracy?'
“So, other from the regular agitation of various organizations demanding the military to leave, we were not under any pressure.
“I have no regrets about turning over authority to civilians; rather, I am satisfied with passing over power to a democratically elected administration since the world community is asking Nigeria to protect democracy, especially as the age of coups returns to West Africa and Africa as a whole.
Some may argue that this is not the democracy they desire, but I will reiterate that nation-building is a continuous process, and I think that our politics will evolve as time goes on. I would like to believe that our electorates are now more educated, and I pray and hope that in the next election, they will not sell their voter cards, nor will they sell their dignity to enable their voter cards to be bought, allowing democracy to grow even more.”
General Abubakar called on the current administration to look into the regular agitations around the nation, particularly on the issue of secession, and to get everyone on board.
