Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said despite nurturing democracy for a quarter of a century in Nigeria, it has continually failed to deliver the promises of prosperity and liberty to the people.

Atiku in a statement yesterday noted that the past nine years has thrown up a regime of extreme hardship in Nigeria, which he stated, “manifested in excruciating poverty and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity upon our people.”

He blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for bringing this gloom on the people, but however added that “the opposition political parties are even more guilty than the ruling party for the seeming lack of capacity to come together and galvanise a coalition that will retire the ruling party and articulate a plan of good governance that will earn the conviction of Nigerians.”

The former vice president stated that the failings of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to the nation’s democracy.

He advised that the earlier opposition parties realise that the fortunes of Nigeria lies in them forging a coalition, the better it would be for the country and the people.