Former Senate President and elder statesman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has urged Nigerians to set aside partisan, ethnic and religious differences to confront what he described as the scourge of bad leadership.
He warned that the nation’s survival hinges on citizens’ choices in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement marking his 78th birthday on Sunday, Wabara identified poor leadership as Nigeria’s “greatest albatross.”
He accused successive administrations, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), since 2015, of squandering the country’s vast human and natural resources.
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The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on opposition parties to shelve personal ambitions and build a broad coalition to rescue Nigeria from “economic mismanagement, democratic decline and worsening insecurity.”
“Nigeria’s greatest problem is not a lack of resources or talented citizens. Our greatest problem is bad leadership,” Wabara said.
“A nation blessed with abundant wealth and extraordinary human capital should not be battling the level of poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity we see today.”
The former Senate President lamented the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, mass unemployment and growing hopelessness across the country.
“Millions of Nigerians can no longer afford basic necessities. Businesses are shutting down, investors are losing confidence, families are struggling to survive, while insecurity spreads across various parts of the country.
“This is not the Nigeria our founding fathers envisioned,” he stated.
Wabara accused the APC of failing to deliver on its 2015 promise of “change,” saying Nigerians have instead witnessed “painful decline in living standards, deepening divisions, mounting debt burdens and worsening insecurity.”
“The evidence is visible across the country. Nigerians must honestly assess the state of the nation and decide whether this is the direction they want to continue,” he warned.
According to him, allowing the APC to remain in power beyond 2027 could further endanger the nation’s future.
Wabara also raised concerns over alleged attempts to weaken opposition voices and shrink democratic space.
“No democracy can thrive without a vibrant opposition. Efforts to intimidate, weaken or silence opposing voices are dangerous to democratic development.
“Democracy flourishes through healthy competition of ideas, accountability and respect for dissenting opinions,” he said.
He urged opposition parties to prioritise national interest over “political ego, unnecessary rivalries or personal ambitions.”
“This is not the time for political ego. The opposition must unite in the national interest.
“We must build a broad coalition of patriotic Nigerians committed to rescuing our country from those who see power as an end in itself rather than a vehicle for service,” Wabara added.
The elder statesman expressed alarm over the surge in kidnappings, killings and attacks on communities, schools, farmers and places of worship, stressing that “security is the primary responsibility of government.”
He urged eligible Nigerians, particularly young people, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, ( PVCs), ahead of 2027.
“My greatest birthday gift would be to see millions of Nigerians register, collect their voter cards and prepare to participate in shaping the future of their country.
Democracy belongs to the people, and the ballot remains the most powerful instrument for peaceful change,” he said.
Wabara further called on INEC, the judiciary, security agencies and other democratic institutions to remain impartial and patriotic in the discharge of their duties.
“Nigeria’s survival must come before every other consideration. The future of our democracy depends on their conduct,” he said.
He also urged voters to reject vote-buying, describing it as a threat to future generations.
“No amount of money is worth mortgaging the future of our children and generations yet unborn. Nigerians must reject financial inducements and stand firmly in defence of democracy, transparency and good governance,” Wabara said.
Reaffirming his optimism, he expressed confidence that Nigeria can reclaim its place as a beacon of hope in Africa “if we embrace competent leadership, accountability, justice and genuine democratic values.”
“Together, we can rescue Nigeria and return her to the path of peace, prosperity and progress,” he concluded.
