Opposition must unite for national interest, says Wabara

Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara has called for a united front among opposition politicians, urging them to transcend partisan, ethnic, and religious divides to address what he described as "bad leadership" in Nigeria. Marking his 78th birthday, Wabara asserted that the nation's survival hinges on the choices made in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

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Nigeria’s greatest problem is not a lack of resources or talented citizens. Our greatest problem is bad leadership.

Wabara, who also chairs the Board of Trustees for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that Nigeria's abundant human and natural resources have been squandered by successive administrations, particularly the current ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He pointed to the soaring cost of living, declining purchasing power, rising unemployment, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness among citizens as evidence of economic mismanagement and democratic decline.

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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.

"Nigeria’s greatest problem is not a lack of resources or talented citizens. Our greatest problem is bad leadership," Wabara stated. He lamented that a nation blessed with wealth and human capital should be struggling with such widespread poverty and insecurity. He accused the APC of failing to fulfill its promises since coming to power in 2015, warning that continued rule could further endanger the nation's future.

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The APC promised change, but what Nigerians have witnessed over the years is a painful decline in living standards, deepening divisions, mounting debt burdens and worsening insecurity.

Wabara emphasized the vital role of a strong opposition in a democracy, stating that efforts to intimidate or silence opposing voices are detrimental to democratic progress. He advocated for healthy competition of ideas, accountability, and respect for dissenting opinions, urging opposition parties to set aside personal ambitions and rivalries for the sake of the national interest and to "rescue Nigeria."

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No democracy can thrive without a vibrant opposition. Efforts to intimidate, weaken or silence opposing voices are dangerous to democratic development.