Salihu Moh. Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, and retired General Aliyu Gusau to devise strategies to displace the APC from power in 2027.
According to Lukman, Nigerians are currently enduring an “existential crisis,” with the nation’s democracy metaphorically placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Lukman’s statement on Tuesday was a reaction to reports about a recent meeting between Obasanjo, Babangida, and Gusau in Minna, Niger State.
He linked their absence at the August 13, 2024, National Council of State meeting, which passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, to potential disagreement with the current administration.
Although Lukman acknowledged that the trio may have contributed to Nigeria’s current challenges, he emphasized that they owe Nigerians a duty to “bring back the country from the ICU.”
“For instance, the political practices that are responsible for the erosion of political competition in political parties in Nigeria could be traceable to the tenure of former President Obasanjo,” Lukman said.
He also noted that Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) might have inspired President Tinubu’s “impulsive and unplanned policies.”
However, Lukman conceded that Babangida balanced “compassion and hard policy choices.”
The Need for a Strong Opposition
Lukman called for efforts to revive Nigeria’s democratic structures, stressing the need for a strong opposition political party. He warned that limiting political engagement to producing candidates could fall into “a legal booby trap imposed by the manipulative activities of President Asiwaju Tinubu and APC.”
He argued that for elected leaders to be accountable and committed to campaign promises, political parties must be robust, with leadership on par with the country’s elected officials.
“A situation whereby party leadership are below the profile of elected leaders is injurious to Nigerian democracy and will retain it in the ICU,” Lukman said.
He urged Obasanjo, Babangida, and Gusau to lead efforts to facilitate deeper engagement among opposition leaders, should they be genuinely committed to rescuing Nigerian democracy.
Comparing Tinubu to Abacha
In a striking comparison, Lukman described President Tinubu as being more inaccessible than the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
“Since May 29, 2023, when President Asiwaju took over, it has been a downward slide for Nigerians. Being a democratic government, the expectation would have been that President Tinubu will be more accessible. Alas, he is proving to be the most inaccessible leader of Nigeria. Even late General Sani Abacha was by far more accessible,” Lukman said.
Lukman criticized Tinubu’s government for abandoning key projects from the previous administration, such as the Kaduna–Abuja Road, while launching new initiatives without budgetary provisions, including the N15 trillion Lagos–Calabar Coastal highway.
He further condemned the administration’s approach to addressing insecurity, describing it as “at best business-as-usual,” with leaders engaging in “ceremonial show of shame and public lamentations.”
Lukman’s remarks reflect growing discontent within the political class regarding President Tinubu’s leadership, just over a year into his presidency.
As Nigeria faces escalating economic and security challenges, calls for a more responsive and accessible government continue to gain traction.