Salihu Lukman, former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF and immediate-past National Vice Chairman, North West of the current All Progressives Congress APC, has left the party, claiming that it has outlived its usefulness and can no longer win elections without cheating.
In a statement issued yesterday, Lukman stated that he felt it essential to write to a few party leaders in order to convey his perspective on the situation both within the party and around the country.
Lukman stated that given Nigerians’ experiences with both former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Tinubu, Nigerians must learn the appropriate lessons by prioritising the development of a strong party organisation capable of subordinating the President and all elected representatives to party organs.
What they’re saying
He stated: “First, most party leaders are concerned that the country’s position has deteriorated in the previous year since President Bola Tinubu took office.
“Given the fact that party structures have been demobilised and the government is enacting policies that have reduced residents’ earnings, living conditions are progressively deteriorating by the day. With this, both the APC and the governments it governs are becoming increasingly unpopular. “There is no need for a probe; at this point, we can only win the election through manipulation.
President Tinubu is now referred to as a one-term president. The sad truth is that the country will be lucky to reach 2027 without experiencing instability,” he said.
“Given all of this, it is impossible to remain in the APC until President Tinubu allows internal party reform to restore the party to its founding vision, which is currently a distant memory. But my current reality in the party is that my membership is no longer useful, and there is no reason for me to continue to impose myself.
“I have returned to the trenches and will attempt to collaborate with all devoted Nigerians who agree and subscribe to the purpose of actively advocating for the survival and development of democracy in Nigeria.We must strengthen our democracy to the point where elected representatives at all levels are accountable to the party, and Nigerians representing various interests can develop strong relationships with political parties and elected governments, allowing government policies to reflect the larger interests of Nigerians.
“Although I pray that God Almighty will touch President Tinubu’s heart and restore whatever remains of his democratic credentials, I have lost hope that after one year of unplanned leadership, not much can be accomplished during his tenure.
“As a result, all patriots, democrats, and progressives in the country must take on the task of organising and mobilising Nigerians to save Nigerian democracy. As it stands, the APC and President Tinubu’s government have been lost in the whirlwind. We must rise to the duty of campaigning against President Asiwaju’s whirlwind, just as we did against military rule and the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP,” he said.
Key point
“Nigerians must learn the appropriate lessons by prioritising the development of a strong party organisation capable of subordinating the President and all elected representatives to party organs”.
