By Divine Ihechimerem
Salihu Moh. Lukman, former National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Northwest, has called on former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, as well as retired General Aliyu Gusau, to devise strategies to oust the APC from power in 2027. He asserts that Nigeria is facing an existential crisis due to its democracy being in a critical state.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Lukman responded to media reports about a recent meeting between the three figures in Minna, Niger State. He noted that the National Council of State had expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu on August 13, 2024, and questioned whether the absence of Obasanjo and Babangida from this vote indicated their disagreement.
Lukman acknowledged that while Obasanjo and Babangida’s past actions may have contributed to Nigeria’s current issues, they now have a duty to help restore the country from its troubled state. He criticized Obasanjo’s tenure for undermining political competition and Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for potentially influencing Tinubu’s controversial policies. However, he recognized Babangida’s balancing of compassionate and hard policy choices.
Lukman emphasized that rescuing Nigerian democracy requires reviving and strengthening democratic structures, including creating a functional political party capable of fostering political competition. He warned that merely producing a candidate could result in legal challenges that undermine electoral viability. Additionally, he stressed that strong party leadership is crucial for holding elected officials accountable and ensuring they fulfill campaign promises.
He urged Obasanjo, Babangida, Abdulsalam, and Gusau to engage more deeply with opposition leaders if they are committed to improving Nigerian democracy.
Lukman also compared President Tinubu to the late General Sani Abacha, claiming that Tinubu is less accessible than Abacha and criticizing his administration for abandoning key projects and failing to address insecurity effectively.