In a statement released on Monday titled “Nigerian Politics of Morbid Desire for Naked Power,” former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-West, Salihu Lukman, has called upon President Bola Tinubu to draw inspiration from the political wisdom of the late Nigerian statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Lukman emphasized that this counsel is essential if Tinubu aims to effectively address the issues afflicting the nation and his political party. Furthermore, he urged Nigerians to hold the President and other incumbent political leaders accountable for their electoral pledges.
Expressing concerns over what he perceives as similarities in Tinubu’s approach to that of his predecessor, Lukman pointed out the demobilization of APC structures, which he believes deviates from the party’s constitutional provisions. He stressed the importance of avoiding a repeat of the 2015 scenario, when the People’s Democratic Party lost power.
The ex-Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum emphasized that there is a limit to the patience Nigerians can afford regarding injustice, unequal representation, and unfairness at the hands of entrusted government leaders.
Lukman stated, “As late Chief Awolowo has argued, the need for a campaign to end morbid desire for naked power in Nigerian politics is urgent and massive. Nigerians must not allow serving political leaders to reduce the current challenges facing the country to the cheap question of who will emerge as the next President of Nigeria in 2027.”
He also urged that whether President Asiwaju Tinubu would serve another four years beyond 2027 should hinge on his capacity to restore constitutional order and return the APC to its original vision as a progressive political party.
Lukman’s critique extended to the APC leadership’s behavior over the years, specifically highlighting the absence of a National Advisory Council, the lack of a defined funding mechanism, and the party’s failure to operate on a budget or render financial accounts to any organ. He noted that these issues were pivotal in the internal disagreements that led to the resignations of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Sen. Iyiola Omisore.
The former National Vice Chairman concluded by stressing that President Asiwaju Tinubu’s ability to achieve “moral and spiritual reconstruction” of Nigeria, in alignment with the political foresight of late Chief Awolowo, can only be realized if the APC’s structures are allowed to function in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He cautioned, “Anything short of that will amount to political betrayal of late Chief Awolowo. President Asiwaju Tinubu must never allow history to record him as one of those who betrayed late Chief Awolowo.”
This statement from Salihu Lukman underscores the growing call for a return to the founding principles of the APC and a reevaluation of its leadership to address the pressing challenges facing Nigeria.