Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Nigerians on the arrival of the New Year 2025, urging them to unite in the pursuit of good governance and remain steadfast in holding their leaders accountable. In a personal New Year message shared with journalists on Tuesday, Atiku emphasized that 2025 marks the beginning of a new era of “heightened public awareness,” calling on every Nigerian to stay vigilant and closely monitor the actions of political leaders.

He noted that the New Year presents an opportunity to “reshape and redefine the national dialogue” and encouraged citizens to actively safeguard the principles of democracy. Atiku emphasized the importance of ensuring that political leaders at all levels of government are held accountable and that unchecked power does not lead to the erosion of freedoms and further exploitation of public office.

Reflecting on the challenges of the past year, Atiku expressed gratitude for the strength and faith that have carried Nigerians through difficult times. “The trials of the past year have only served to fortify our faith. Our unshakable belief in divine protection has been our guiding light, and it is this same spirit of unwavering faith that will continue to propel us forward in the coming year,” he said.

Atiku called on Nigerians to nurture shared hopes for collective prosperity, stressing the need to ensure that the power entrusted to leaders is never abused. He also urged the nation to be vigilant against any threats to public welfare and fundamental rights, while praying for the revitalization of the national economy, so that Nigerians can once again breathe freely, free from the “suffocating grip of economic hardship.”

In closing, Atiku urged Nigerians to stand together in the pursuit of good governance and resist efforts to divide the nation along religious or ethnic lines. “As we celebrate the divine favor that allows us to witness the beginning of this New Year, let us not forget our fellow countrymen who were not so fortunate, those whose lives were claimed by the relentless storms of daily hardships that have long plagued Nigeria,” he added.