Salihu Moh. Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for unity among Nigeria’s leading political figures to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He expressed concern over the growing despondency in the country and urged notable political leaders such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola to rise above their individual ambitions for the sake of Nigeria’s democratic development.
Lukman questioned whether these leaders would continue to let their narrow political ambitions hinder Nigeria’s progress or come together to create a united political front.
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Such unity, he argued, could transform Nigeria’s democracy and counteract the ‘state capture’ phenomenon, where small, corrupt groups of former government officials manipulate decision-making processes to their advantage.
He lamented that many political leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are currently operating in isolation.
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Similarly, APC leaders like Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola have been marginalized within the party and pushed to the periphery of Nigerian politics.
Despite some political activities around these leaders, Lukman noted that there has been no significant commitment to building strong political parties capable of challenging the APC and President Tinubu.
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He prayed for divine intervention to unite all patriotic political leaders across party lines, including marginalized APC leaders, to build democratic institutions that ensure government accountability to citizens.
Lukman acknowledged attempts by President Tinubu’s administration to attribute current economic hardships to the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
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However, he emphasized that both administrations are under the APC.
He argued that the APC’s popularity stemmed from the failings of the PDP but noted that the current challenges under the APC are even more severe than those during the PDP’s tenure.
He stressed that the failures of former President Buhari should be shared by all APC leaders, including President Tinubu, as they collectively benefited from the Buhari era.
Lukman concluded that without Buhari, the APC’s victory over the PDP in 2015 would have been nearly impossible, and by extension, so would Tinubu’s presidency.
