Vice President Atiku Abubakar has forclosed his return to Nigeria for the inauguration ceremony of the incoming administration of Musa Yar’Adua and Jonathan Goodluck saying such would be giving credence to an election that have been condemned locally and internationally as not free and fair.

In a statement that might be his valedictory statement as Vice President of Nigeria for eight years, Vice President Abubakar explained that such attendance will confer credibility on the April elections that has been condemned worldwide as falling short of the basic minimum of electoral standards.

“I shall not dignify such a hollow ritual with my presence. Like many Nigerians, I will sit at home and meditate over what has befallen our nation and pray that God will disperse these dark clouds gathering over our beloved country”, he said.

The outgoing Vice President also bemoaned the state of the nation, noting that all is not well with her. “All is not well with our country and those who think otherwise cannot really claim to love her. Democracy is in the throes of death in Nigeria and evil forces have laid siege to our country, threatening to unleash unspeakable horrors on our future.

It is therefore not surprising that our nation is at present enveloped in gloom and a sense of foreboding. A transition that should have been marked with pomp and gaiety is now being mourned by most Nigerians. Yet, those who brought us to this sorry pass want us to accept this odious situation. They keep reminding us about the so-called landmark achievement of transiting from one civilian administration to another. And we are left wondering why self-proclaimed people of integrity and honour will want to celebrate a dubious a landmark achievement.”

Abubakar restated his position on the April polls while offering explanations why he and his party decided to challenge the result of the election at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“My position on the April elections is well known. I do not mind repeating the fact that the April polls were substantially not free, fair and credible.

“If we, as patriots,  fail to challenge the travesty that was foisted on the nation in April by a vile and desperate cabal, Nigerian democracy will wither and die. Tyranny will take over, our basic freedoms and rights will vanish and our collective values will be trampled upon without a whimper from a traumatised and cowed populace. Nigeria will again be scorned and shunned by the civilized world. Our democracy will shrink and sink deeper into depression as a consequence of this isolation and our poverty and misery will deepen. It is to forestall these catastrophic consequences of a deeply flawed election that we have gone to the tribunal to ask for the nullification of the presidential election.”

He also spoke on his knee injury which treatment has kept him away from the country in the last one month.

“When I left the shores of Nigeria on April 25 th for a scheduled check on my injured knee, I did not envisage that it would take such a long time. My knee is healing well and I shall soon return to the country as soon as my doctors certify me fit enough to resume normal life in Nigeria. I am grateful to Nigerians for their prayers, support and well wishes.”

Hinting at the crisis between him and President Obasanjo in the last lap of their eight years in power, Abubakar said he had wished the crisis was avoided and the energy devoted to it committed to the provision of dividends of democracy for Nigerians.

“I thank you all for the opportunity to serve as Vice President in the past eight years. I had wished and indeed, worked, for a happy ending of this dispensation. It is regrettable that this has not been the case. I found myself in a peculiar situation in which I had to fight for my political and physical survival. This needless persecution of my aides, supporters and myself distracted government from the delivery of democracy dividends to Nigerians. I know Nigeria deserves a better deal and how I wish that this passion to improve the lot of every Nigerian was shared by my persecutors who elevated such persecution to a state obligation”.

He concluded with a message of hope for the survival of democracy in the country.

“As we meditate for the survival of democracy in our country, let us be of good cheer because after darkness comes the dawn. May God answer our prayers for the sustenance of democracy in our country. I thank you and may God bless you all."