Muhammad Alabira Nabordo
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha, said there’s nothing to celebrate on June 12, a day Nigerians commemorate democracy.
Hamza Almustapha stated this in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa service monitor on Thursday by Nigerian Times Online.
According to Al-Mustapha that Nigeria’s current state of affairs is a far cry from the progress made during the military era.
“Nigeria is far back in terms of democracy compared to the military era,” he claimed.
Al-Mustapha lamented the country’s current challenges, citing insecurity, disunity, economic instability, lack of electricity, and a crippled educational system.
He also criticized that Nigeria is no longer respected as a nation compared to what it was before 1999.
“One cannot travel from one end of Nigeria to the other because of insecurity, life under military rule was more stable,” he stressed.
In his opinion, the only notable achievement of the current democratic dispensation is the existence of democracy itself.
However, Al-Mustapha’s comments have reignited debates about Nigeria’s progress under different governance systems.
While some may disagree with his views, his sentiments reflect a growing concern among Nigerians about the country’s trajectory.
Therefore, as the nation celebrates June 12, Al-Mustapha’s words serve as a reminder of the complexities and challenges that lie ahead.
General Sani Abacha died in the seat of power, his death occurred on June 8, 1998, while he was still in office as the Head of State of Nigeria.
