The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the just-concluded presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has said the journey to become Nigeria’s president almost cost his life.

The former vice president who spoke during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said his move to enthrone and deepen democracy in Nigeria started even during the military era.

The PDP candidate claimed that he has been battling for the nation’s top job for the past three decades.

He said, “It is with a heart full of sadness that I address you today. I have in the last three decades devoted my life to battle to birth and deepen democracy in our country.

“It was a battle that started during the military era. It was a struggle that nearly cost me my life and that of my son where eight policemen were killed in the attempt to save our lives. I survived the assassination only by the mercy and the grace of God.

“That was not all, my businesses were nearly crippled. My commitment in the enthronement of democracy made me join forces with other compatriots.

“As a leader of the defunct Social Democratic Party, together with our current Chairman, we fought and won the 1993 presidential election which was acclaimed to be the freest election in our nation’s history. There was no internet then, yet it was the freest and fairest election”.