A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Salihu Lukman, on Sunday, expressed concern over the growing despondency in Nigeria and urged political leaders to unite and challenge the current administration.
In a statement titled “Future of Democracy in Nigeria,” Lukman called for a merger of political leaders, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola and others to form a united front capable of moving Nigerian democracy forward.
He lamented the current state of the country, citing poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and corruption, among other challenges.
He criticized the APC for legitimizing corruption and “state capture” at all levels despite promising to fight corruption.
Lukman warned that the current administration could destroy the economic advantages of the South-West, similar to how former President Buhari’s tenure affected the Northern region.
The former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) stressed the need for selflessness among political leaders and urged them to put aside personal ambitions in the interest of the country.
He argued that coalition among the opposition figures would gain acceptability across the regions, including the South-East, which has rejected the APC since 2015.
The statement read: “What is the future of democracy in Nigeria? Is there any prospect that it can produce leaders who are responsive to national challenges?
“Being responsive is basically about ensuring that public expenditures are oriented to tackle challenges facing citizens.
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“What are the challenges facing Nigerians today? Poverty, unemployment, insecurity, drugs and substance abuse, millions of out of school children in the North, etc. Not to talk of the additional problems of inflation and the crash of the value of incomes especially in the last one year under the leadership of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The danger with the way President Asiwaju is running affairs of the country is the potential destruction of the relative advantages of the economy of the South-West region, almost like the way former President Buhari left the Northern region worse off after his eight-year tenure.
“More than anything, the negative impact of the crash in the value of the Naira and rising cost of production for industries – small, medium and large scale – will be more devastating to the economy of the South-West more than any other region.
“Unfortunately, given the advanced stage of ‘state capture’ at Federal level, most political leaders, including the leading opposition leaders such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are all operating in isolation to one another. APC leaders such as former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesole etc. who are more like political orphans on account of being excluded from the President Asiwaju Tinubu government have been pushed to the peripheral edges of Nigerian politics.
“Given the way the failure of APC has widen the country’s fault lines, it is important that considerations for developing united political front painstakingly aspire to unite political leaders across the country. For instance, the way, the people of the South-East rejected the APC since 2015 must be redressed.
“Any new united political front should gain some measure of high acceptability in virtually all parts of the country. The requirement for high acceptability from all sections of the country should humble all political leaders in the country, especially Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi not to exploit the need for such a united front by imposing their presidential ambitions.
“In the same vein, other APC leaders such as Prof. Osinbajo, Chief Amaechi, Dr. Fayemi, Mal. El-Rufai, Sen. Amosu, etc. (APC political orphans) who in one way or the other have ambitions to become Nigeria’s President must bury such ambitions, at least not during the negotiation to form the united political front.”
Lukman’s call for unity among political leaders comes as a response to the growing discontent with the current administration and the need for a united front to challenge its leadership.
The success of such a merger remains to be seen, as it would require significant compromise and selflessness from the involved political leaders.
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