The leader of the opposition is considered by civil society organizations as one of the most corrupt politicians in the country.
Le Monde with AFP
Atiku Abubakar, Leader of the opposition in Nigeria and former Vice President, announced on Wednesday, March 23 being a candidate for the presidential election of 2023 to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
At 75 years, this sulphurous and rich businessman wishes to come to a sixth presidential election in the most populous country in Africa in three decades. It is considered by civil society organizations as one of the most corrupt Nigerian politicians.
“Currently, Nigeria is a flowing vessel, it must be saved urgently. That’s why I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said Abubakar, At a press conference in Abuja, the capital.
m. Abubakar said he wanted to make security, the economy and education his priorities, while emphasizing decentralization in this Federal Republic. At the head of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, “Atiku”, as the Nigerians appealed, lost in 2019 against the outgoing President Buhari.
Security, Major issue of the election
less than one year of the vote scheduled for February 2023, no favorite has for the moment emerged despite the candidacy announcement of famous politicians, like Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos and leader of the party in power, the Congress of Progressive (CPA).
Security will be a major issue of the election because the country is in the grip of widespread insecurity. The Nigerian army is deployed on multiple fronts, particularly in the north-east, theater of a jihadist insurrection for more than ten years and in the northwest where criminal bands loot, kidnap and kill the inhabitants.
The high cost of life, an umpteenth series of general power cuts and the outbreak of fuel prices will also weigh because Nigerians do not benefit from the oil resources of their country, the first black gold producer of Africa .
To attempt to reconcile this country extremely divided between a Muslim north and a Christian south, and where nearly 250 ethnic groups, a tacit rule provides for a rotation of the Presidency both mandates between northern and southern candidates. But Mr. Abubakar, former Customs Chief and Vice-President (1999-2007), is northerned from the North, just like President Buhari who, after two mandates, announced not to represent himself.